8.1.7 to 8.1.9

Reaching Madras in June 1756, Clive immediately became involved in the affairs of Bengal, with which, henceforward, his fate was to be linked. Hitherto Bengal had been ruled by viceroys of the figurehead Mughal emperor, and it was under their protection that the English East India Company carried on its trade. The principal city, Calcutta, had come to rival Madras as a trading centre, and its commerce was the most valuable in India. In 1756 a dispute with the British about fortifying the city caused the new nawab (Mughal viceroy) of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Dawlah, to attack and capture the fort there. Calcutta and Plassey. News of the fall of Calcutta reached Madras in August 1756. After some delay Clive was given command of the relief expedition and set out on Oct. 16, 1756, with 900 Europeans and 1,500 Indians. Clive retook Calcutta on Jan. 2, 1757, and forced the Nawab to restore the company's privileges, pay compensation, and allow the British to fortify Calcutta. Determined to take advantage of discontent with the Nawab's regime, he sponsored a new ruler in order to ensure conditions agreeable to the company's trade. His candidate was Mir Ja'far, an elderly general secretly hostile to Siraj-ud-Dawlah. Clive broke with Siraj-ud-Dawlah and overthrew him at the Battle of Plassey on June 23. The conflict was more of a cannonade than a battle, and only 23 of Clive's men were killed. This victory made Clive the virtual master of Bengal. Clive's first government lasted until February 1760. He was confirmed as governor by the company and went about the business of strengthening Mir Ja'far's authority, though at the same time keeping him under control. A challenge from the Mughal crown prince was repulsed at Patna in 1759. The Dutch, who sought to play on the Nawab's discontent at Clive's restraints, sent a force to their settlement at Chinsura, but through a series of adroit moves Clive destroyed this force even though England was at peace with the Netherlands. By 1760 Mir Ja'far's authority was unchallenged throughout Bengal and Bihar, and his subservience to the company was complete. In addition, by the dispatch of a force under Col. Francis Forde in 1758, Clive secured the Northern Sarkars from the French garrison.