Dictionary of Indian Biography/Clive, Robert, Baron
CLIVE, ROBERT, BARON (1725–1774)
Governor of Bengal : son of Richard Clive : born Sep. 29, 1725 : educated at Lostock, Market Drayton. Merchant Taylors' and Hemel Hempstead : his youth marked by energy, courage, and adventure : reached Madras as a "writer" in the E. I. Co.'s Civil Service in 1744 : in the capitulation of Madras, 1746 : escaped to Fort St. David : obtained military employ in 1848 : at Boscawen's siege of Pondicherry : fought at Devikota, 1749, on behalf of the Tanjore ruler : at the flight at Valkonda : seized Arcot on Aug. 31, 1751, to divert Chanda Sahib from besieging Muhammad Ali at Trichinopoly : was himself besieged with his small party in the fort of Arcot for 50 days by Chanda Sahib's superior force, which he beat off successfully : one of the most brilliant feats in history : defeated Raja Sahib and the French at Caveripak, 1752 : destroyed the town of Dupleix Fatehabad : defeated French Army near Trichinopoly : took Covelong and Chingleput : in England, 1753–6 : returned to India as Lt-Colonel : on his way out through Bombay captured, on Feb. 13, 1756, Gheria, the stronghold of the pirate Angria : became Lieutenant-Governor of Fort St. David, June 20, 1756 : after the Black Hole tragedy, Clive was sent up to Bengal in Oct.-Dec. 1756 : took Calcutta and Hughli from the Nawab Suraj-ud-daula : again defeated him and took Chandernagore : through Omichund, whom he deceived by the fraud of two copies, one of them being fictitious, of the treaty, made a treaty with Mir Jafar to desert the Nawab : fought the battle of Plassey, June 23, 1757; routed the Nawab, who fled and was killed : installed Mir J afar as Nawab, and received large siuns from him : made Governor of Bengal : asserted himself against his colleagues in the Government : defeated the Dutch near Chinsiura : sent Colonel Forde to the N. districts of Madras : to England again, 1760–5 : made Baron Clive of Plassey in 1762 : K.C.B. in 1764 : M.P. for Shrewsbury : described as a "heaven-born General" : quarrelled with Sullivan, Chairman of the E. I. Co.'s Directors, and defeated him : reappointed Governor of Bengal and C. in C. to reform the abuses prevailing there in his absence : held office May 3, 1765, till Jan. 1767 : obtained from the Emperor of Delhi, Shah Alam, the "diwani," i.e. authority to administer the Civil Government and collect the revenue, of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, Aug. 12, 1765 : restored Oudh to Shuja-ud-daula : reformed the administration, checking malpractices and giving adequate salaries : measures of retrenchment provoked mutiny, which he promptly repressed : finally retired in 1767, poorer than in 1765 : a £70,000 legacy from Mir Jafar he devoted to "the Clive Fund" for military men : attacked in England by numerous enemies, his administration subjected to Parliamentary inquiry : partly condemned,but it was finally decided that Clive had rendered great and meritorious services to his country : worn out by ill-health and persecution, he took his own life, Nov. 22, 1774. His character much discussed : his bravery, ability, masterfulness, power of leading and governing are generally admitted : but his deceit of Omichund cannot be justified, and his acceptance of large presents from Mir Jafar can only be excused by special considerations of contemporary custom, and their openness.