Robert Clive facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Major-General The Right Honourable The Lord Clive KB FRS
Lord Clive in military uniform. The Battle of Plassey is shown behind him. By Nathaniel Dance. National Portrait Gallery, London.
Governor of the Presidency of Fort William, Bengal
In office 1757–1760
Preceded by	Roger Drake as President
Succeeded by	Henry Vansittart
In office 1765–1766
Preceded by	Henry Vansittart
Succeeded by	Harry Verelst
Personal details
Born	(1725-09-29)29 September 1725 Styche Hall, Market Drayton, Shropshire, England
Died	22 November 1774(1774-11-22) (aged 49) Berkeley Square, Westminster, London
Nationality	British
Alma mater	Merchant Taylors' School
Awards	KB
Military service
Allegiance	Kingdom of Great Britain
Branch/service	Company Army
Years of service	1746–1774
Rank	Major-general
Unit	British East India Company
Commands	Commander-in-Chief of India
Battles/wars	War of the Austrian Succession Battle of Madras Siege of Cuddalore Siege of Pondicherry Tanjore Expedition Second Carnatic War Siege of Trichinopoly Siege of Arcot Battle of Arnee Battle of Chingleput Seven Years' War Battle of Vijaydurg Recapture of Calcutta Battle of Chandannagar Battle of Plassey

Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive of Plassey, KB (29 September 1725 – 22 November 1774), also known as Clive of India, was a British soldier who established British control in Southern India and Bengal. Together with Warren Hastings he was one of the key figures in the creation of British India.

Robert Clive was born at Styche, the family estate, in the parish in Moreton Say, near Market Drayton, Shropshire. Teachers were unable to control the young Clive. He is said to have climbed the tower of St Mary's Parish Church in Market Drayton and sat on a gargoyle, frightening people down below. He also attempted to set up a protection racket enforced by a gang of youths. Faced with the choice of paying up or receiving a visit from Clive and his 'boys', many of Market Drayton's shopkeepers decided to pay. His bad behaviour resulted in him being expelled from three schools, including Market Drayton Grammar School. he also went to Clifton College School. he boarded there for 3 years

Images for kids

• 

  St Mary's in Market Drayton, whose tower Clive is reputed to have climbed

• 

  Clive House at Fort St. George, Chennai

• 

  Plaque at Clive House

• 

  Portrait by Charles Clive, c. 1764

• 

  Clive at the siege of Arcot (1751)

• 

  "9 (Plassey) Battery Royal Artillery" of the British Military.

• 

  Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive of Plassey, meeting with Mir Jafar after the Battle of Plassey, by Francis Hayman. National Portrait Gallery, London.

• 

  The Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II, as a pensioner of the British East India Company, 1781.

• 

  Clive meeting with Emperor Shah Alam II, 1765

• 

  Miniature of Al-Khidr, from the "Small Clive Album" thought to have been given to Clive on his 1765–67 visit to India by Shuja ud-Daula, the Nawab of Awadh. The Album contains 62 folia of Mughal miniature paintings, drawing and floral pattern studies. The binding is from Indian brocade silk brought home by the 2nd Lord Clive, who served as Governor of Madras, 1799 to 1803. Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1956.

• 

  A plaque in memory of Lord Clive in Pézenas (France), where he stayed in 1768, and introduced a local delicacy, le petit pâté de Pézenas.

• 

  Plassey House, now part of the University of Limerick

• 

  A statue of Clive stands tall in Shrewsbury Square

• 

  A later statue of Clive stands in King Charles Street London

• 

  Robert Clive Statue in Victoria Memorial, Kolkata