Who was Robert Clive?
Robert Clive was a statesman and soldier who
established British rule in India during the eighteenth century.
(He became Baron Clive of Plassey but was colloquially known as
"Clive of India").
Date and Place of Birth:
29th September 1725, Styche, near Market Drayton,
Shropshire, England.
Family Background:
Clive was the eldest son of Richard Clive of
Styche. His mother was the daughter of Nathaniel Gaskell of Manchester.
Education:
Merchant Taylor's School, London.
Statue of Robert Clive in Shrewsbury market place
(© Anthony Blagg)
Chronology/Biography of Robert Clive:
1743: Sent to Madras,
India by the East India Company. Captured by the French.
1746: Escaped from
the French.
1751: Robert Clive
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 King Charles Street,
Whitehall, London
(© Anthony 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.
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
Places of Interest:
AVON:
Lived at No 14, The Circus, Bath
LONDON:
British Library.
SHROPSHIRE:
Walcott Hall, Lydbury North, Bishops Castle was
built for Clive.
SCOTLAND:
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental
Museum, The Castle, Stirling.
WALES:
Regimental Museum of the First Queens Dragoon
Guards, Cardiff Castle.
Powis Castle, Powys has a Clive Museum.
Robert Clive's eldest son married into the Herbert Family
of Powis Castle
and there is a Clive Museum of many Indian artefacts there today
(© Anthony Blagg)
