On this day Robert Clive captured Calcutta. As lieutenant-colonel of the British forces, Clive had been sent to recover Calcutta from Nawab Siraj-Ud-Daulah in December 1756. He took the fortress of Budge Budge with very few casualties on his side.
On June 23, 1757, Clive would defeat Siraj in the Battle of Plassey with his 3,000 men overwhelming Siraj’s massive army of 50,000, of which the majority, led by Mir Jafar, would defect. Siraj, on the run after the battle, would be killed a few days later, on July 2.
Clive did not have formal military training. He had started his career as a writer with the East India Company in Madras.
He joined the army as a brevet captain in 1751. He rose to prominence after defending against the French Carnatic’s capital Arcot in October 1751, and helping to establish British authority in south India.
This helped establish British power in southern India.
The Battle of Plassey established the British empire decisively in India.