Robert Clive (Clive Robert)

(1725-1774)
Born September 29, 1725, near Market-Drayton (Shropshire, England). In 1743 was sent to India as an official of the East India Company (cm. as the British Empire).
The arrival of Clive coincided with the spread of India War of the Austrian Succession between England and France. Joseph Francois Dupleix seized the south, and in 1748 captured Madras, where there was a settlement of the British merchants. However, in the same year was signed Ahensky peace treaty, under which the British settlement in Madras was restored to Britain in exchange for Luisburg in Canada.

In 1751 Clive joined as a volunteer in the army, promoted to the command post. Participated in the capture of Arcot district of Madras, under. By 1753 the British influenced upon Carnatic - an area of southern India, adjacent to the Madras.

In 1755, Clive returned to India, having a patent for the post of colonel. After the June 1756 Nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-Daula fell on the British settlement in Calcutta, June 23, 1757 at the Battle of Plassche Clive defeated the 60 thousandth army of the Nawab. In London, William Pitt the Elder spoke of Clive as 'commander of God'.

In 1760 Clive returned to England. The title of the Irish peerage and Baron Clive Plessen. Peerage not preclude him from running for parliament, where he supported Pitt, and then Grenville. Having bought a controlling stake in East India Company, Clive received the right to the post of governor settlementov company in Bengal.

In his third visit to India in 1765-1767 Clive studied administrative reforms, tried to fight corruption, has created an army company, quelled the revolt. From the Nawab Mir Jafar Clive got 'divani' - the right to rule Bengal. In 1767, Clive resigned.

Clive died in London on November 22, 1774.