Robert Clive was the first Governor of Bengal Presidency and he had a major impact on India’s modern history. Despite of his work in India, he had a great participation and contribution in the Indian Modern history. Topic is useful for various government exams and for general knowledge.
Robert Clive(1725-1774), first Baron Clive, KB(Most Honorable order of the Bath), FRS(Fellowship of the Royal Society), also known as Clive of India.
He was a trouble boy in his initial days of youth.
Clive arrived in India at Fort St. George(1744).
Initially, he worked as an office clerk for the East India Company in 1744.
Events during his time in India
When the British surrendered in 1746 by French, Clive and other few Britishers refused to take the oath of not to take arms against French.
Somehow, he managed to escape from the captivity of French forces and enlisted himself into the company army.
He was recognized for his contribution and participation in defense of the Fort St. David (1947).
He was also noticed during the siege of Pondicherry.
Similarly, he proved himself in many campaigns and later returned to England (1753) with his love Margaret Maskelyne.
Robert Clive came back in 1755 as a Deputy Governor of Fort St. David. And also promoted to a lieutenant-colonel in British Army.
The breaking point came when without taking the permission of Nawab, Company began to fortify Calcutta.
Siraj-ud-Daula prevented the English from forrtifying Fort William.
However, English refused to stop the fortification.
Nawab captured Fort William, taking 146 englishmen as prisoners and hold up in a very small room.
123 died on 20th June, 1756, out of suffocation. English historians describe this incident as Black Hole Tragedy.
This incident instigated the English at Chennai to send a relieving force under Robert Clive along side Admiral Watson to Bengal.
British retaliation started with hatching a conspiracy against Nawab in alliance with his people.
Clive marched toward Plassey on 23 June, 1757, which was near to the Nawab’s Capital.
English Victory in Battle of Plassey(1757).
Mir Jafar who was the commander-in-chief of the Nawab who did not take up arms was awarded the Nawabship by Robert Clive as agreed earlier.
Mir Jafar responded to this favour by paying a sum of Rs One Crore and 77 lakhs to company.
Battle of Plassey had made the English a poweful factor in Politics of Bengal.
Signed Treaty of Allahabad(1765) in which English got Diwani rights of Bengal, Orissa, Bihar.
First Governor of Bengal during 1757-60 and again during 1765-67.
Established Dual Government in Bengal from 1765-72.
Established ‘Society for Trade’.
He returned back to Great Britain in 1760 and again came back in 1765.
For the last time, he left India in 1767.
If you find our content helpful and interesting, please consider joining us on Telegram @affairsmastery to show your support. We would really appreciate it!
Skip to content 
