71 Facts About Robert Clive

Robert Clive began as a "writer" for the EIC in 1744 and established Company rule in Bengal by winning the Battle of Plassey in 1757.

Robert Clive's achievements included checking French imperialist ambitions on the Coromandel Coast and establishing EIC control over Bengal, thereby furthering the establishment of the British Raj, though he worked only as an agent of the East India Company, not of the British government.

Robert Clive was their eldest son of thirteen children; he had seven sisters and five brothers, six of whom died in infancy.

Robert Clive's father was known to have a temper, which the boy apparently inherited.

For reasons that are unknown, Robert Clive was sent to live with his mother's sister in Manchester while still a toddler.

Biographer Robert Harvey suggests that this move was made because Clive's father was busy in London trying to provide for the family.

Robert Clive was a regular troublemaker in the schools to which he was sent.

Robert Clive is reputed to have climbed the tower of St Mary's Parish Church in Market Drayton and perched on a gargoyle, frightening those down below.

When Robert Clive was nine his aunt died, and, after a brief stint in his father's cramped London quarters, he returned to Shropshire.

Robert Clive eventually developed a distinctive writing style, and a speech in the House of Commons was described by William Pitt as the most eloquent he had ever heard.

In 1744 Robert Clive's father acquired for him a position as a "factor" or company agent in the service of the East India Company, and Robert Clive set sail for India.

Robert Clive was given access to the governor's library, where he became a prolific reader.

The India Robert Clive arrived in was divided into a number of successor states to the Mughal Empire.

Robert Clive led this force rapidly across the river and toward the fort, where the small British unit became separated from the sepoys and were enveloped by the Tanjorean cavalry.

Robert Clive was nearly cut down and the beachhead almost lost before reinforcements sent by Lawrence arrived to save the day.

The daring move by Robert Clive had an important consequence: the Tanjoreans abandoned the fort, which the British triumphantly occupied.

Robert Clive's territories were "said to yield an annual revenue of over 350,000 rupees".

Robert Clive was not in southern India for many of these events.

In 1750 Robert Clive was afflicted with some sort of nervous disorder, and was sent north to Bengal to recuperate.

Robert Clive, who accompanied the force as commissary, was outraged at the decision to abandon the siege.

Robert Clive rode to Cuddalore, and offered his services to lead an attack on Arcot if he was given a captain's commission, arguing this would force Chanda Sahib to either abandon the siege of Trichinopoly or significantly reduce the force there.

Robert Clive did the best he could to prepare for the onslaught he expected.

Robert Clive made a foray against the fort's former garrison, encamped a few miles away, which had no significant effect.

That night Robert Clive led most of his force out of the fort and launched a surprise attack on the besiegers.

The next day Robert Clive learned that heavy guns he had requested from Madras were approaching, so he sent most of his garrison out to escort them into the fort.

That night Robert Clive launched a daring attack against the French artillery, seeking to capture their guns.

Robert Clive himself was targeted on more than one occasion; one man pulled him down and was shot dead.

The affair was a serious blow: 15 of Robert Clive's men were killed, and another 15 wounded.

Robert Clive's men were subjected to frequent sniper attacks and disease, lowering the garrison size to 200.

Robert Clive was heartened to learn that some 6,000 Maratha forces had been convinced to come to his relief, but that they were awaiting payment before proceeding.

The approach of this force prompted Raza Sahib to demand Robert Clive's surrender; Robert Clive's response was an immediate rejection, and he further insulted Raza Sahib by suggesting that he should reconsider sending his rabble of troops against a British-held position.

Robert Clive was awakened by the alarm, and was instantly at his post.

The Prime Minister William Pitt the Elder described Robert Clive, who had received no formal military training whatsoever, as the "heaven-born general", endorsing the generous appreciation of his early commander, Major Lawrence.

Robert Clive was then offered command of British forces in North America, but he declined.

Robert Clive, now promoted to lieutenant-colonel in the British Army, took part in the capture of the fortress of Gheriah, a stronghold of the Maratha Admiral Tuloji Angre.

Robert Clive employed Umichand, a rich Bengali trader, as an agent between Mir Jafar and the British officials.

But, either because his daring asserted itself, or because of a letter received from Mir Jafar, Robert Clive was the first to change his mind and to communicate with Major Eyre Coote.

Robert Clive had already made a secret agreement with aristocrats in Bengal, including Jagat Seth and Mir Jafar.

Robert Clive restrained Major Kilpatrick, for he trusted to Mir Jafar's abstinence, if not desertion to his ranks, and knew the importance of sparing his own small force.

Robert Clive was fully justified in his confidence in Mir Jafar's treachery to his master, for he led a large portion of the Nawab's army away from the battlefield, ensuring his defeat.

Robert Clive lost hardly any European troops; in all 22 sepoys were killed and 50 wounded.

Robert Clive was captured by Mir Jafar's forces and later executed by the assassin Mohammadi Beg.

Robert Clive entered Murshidabad and established Mir Jafar as Nawab, the price which had been agreed beforehand for his treachery.

Robert Clive sent Major Coote in pursuit of the French almost as far as Benares.

Robert Clive dispatched Colonel Forde to Vizagapatam and the northern districts of Madras, where Forde won the Battle of Condore, pronounced by Broome "one of the most brilliant actions on military record".

Robert Clive came into direct contact with the Mughal himself, for the first time, a meeting which would prove beneficial in his later career.

Meanwhile, Robert Clive improved the organisation and drill of the sepoy army, after a European model, and enlisted into it many Muslims from upper regions of the Mughal Empire.

Robert Clive had been formally made Governor of Bengal by the Court of Directors at a time when his nominal superiors in Madras sought to recall him to their help there.

Robert Clive selected some able subordinates, notably a young Warren Hastings, who, a year after Plassey, was made Resident at the Nawab's court.

Robert Clive sought to extract the maximum revenue possible from the peasantry to fund military campaigns, and corruption was widespread amongst its officials.

In 1762 Robert Clive was awarded an Irish peerage, created Baron Robert Clive of Plassey, County Clare; he bought lands in County Limerick and County Clare, Ireland.

Robert Clive had been well received at court, was elevated to the peerage, had bought estates, and returned a few friends as well as himself to the House of Commons.

Robert Clive was MP for Shrewsbury from 1761 until his death.

Robert Clive was allowed to sit in the Commons because his peerage was Irish.

Robert Clive received an honorary degree as DCL from Oxford University in 1760, and in 1764 he was appointed Knight of the Order of the Bath.

Robert Clive set himself to reform the home system of the East India Company, and began a bitter dispute with the chairman of the Court of Directors, Laurence Sulivan, whom he defeated in the end.

Mir Jafar had finally rebelled over payments to British officials, and Robert Clive's successor had put Qasim Ali Khan, Mir Jafar's son-in-law upon the musnud.

Robert Clive had now an opportunity of repeating in Hindustan, or Upper India, what he had accomplished in Bengal.

Robert Clive might have secured what is called Uttar Pradesh, and have rendered unnecessary the campaigns of Wellesley and Lake.

In return for the Awadhian provinces Robert Clive secured from the emperor one of the most important documents in British history in India, effectively granting title of Bengal to Robert Clive.

Robert Clive had this in mind when he penned his last advice to the directors, as he finally left India in 1767:.

The salaries of civil servants were increased, the acceptance of gifts from Indians was forbidden, and Robert Clive exacted covenants under which participation in the inland trade was stopped.

Robert Clive divided the whole army into three brigades, making each a complete force, in itself equal to any single Indian army that could be brought against it.

Robert Clive was instrumental in making the company virtual master of North India by introducing his policy of "Dual system of government".

Later in 1768, Robert Clive was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and served as treasurer of the Royal Salop Infirmary in Shrewsbury.

Later in 1772, Robert Clive was invested Knight of the Bath, and was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire.

Robert Clive continued to be involved in Parliamentary discussions on company reforms.

Robert Clive's death was caused by a cut to his throat from a penknife he held.

Robert Clive was buried in St Margaret's Parish Church at Moreton Say, near his birthplace in Shropshire.

Robert Clive himself commented on the poor conditions of Bengal under Company rule,.

In January 2021, the private school that Robert Clive attended, Merchant Taylors' School, renamed Robert Clive House to "Raphael House".