Britain Unlimited covers 250 Great British people and what made them famous

Who was Robert Clive? Statesman and soldier who established British rule in India. (Baron Clive of Plassey). Date and Place of Birth: 29th September 1725, Styche, near Market Drayton, Shropshire, England. Family Background: Eldest son of Richard Clive of Styche. His mother was the daughter of Nathaniel Gaskell of Manchester. Education: Merchant Taylor's School, London. Chronology: 1743: Sent to Madras, India by the East India Company. Captured by the French. 1746: Escaped from the French. 1751: Made seizure of Arcot, Capital of Chanda Sahib. Held it for eight weeks with a small force until relieved. Went on to capture other French strongholds. 1753: Returned to England. 1755: Returned to India as Governor of Fort Saint David. 1756: Reduced the pirate stronghold of Gheriah. 1757: Recovered Calcutta after British incarcerated in the "Black hole of Calcutta". Defeated the Mughal Nawab, Sirajud Dawlah at Plassey installed Mir Jakar as the new Nawab and became the virtual ruler of Bengal. 1759: Repulsed Dutch colonial efforts. 1760: Returned to England and entered Parliament (1760-74) 1762: Raised to the Peerage. Statue of Clive of India in London (© A Blagg) 1764: Returned to India as Governor and Commander in Chief of Bengal to quell the disorder, which had grown up in his absence. Reformed the Civil Service in Bengal and began the empire of British India. 1767: Returned to England in shattered health to a storm of parliamentary enquiries. Marriage: 1753 to Margaret Maskelyne. Places of Interest: AVON: Lived at No 14, The Cicus, Bath LONDON: British Library. Date and Place of Death: Committed suicide 22nd November 1774, London, England after allegations of corruption were investigated by parliament. Age at Death: 48. Site of Grave: St. Margaret’s Church Moreton Say, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England.