mdmd(4) - Notes: Clive of India

[AS Rounce]

On Thu, 17 Jul 1997, Brian D. McCary wrote:

> 130.29    Clive of India: Soldier and later commander in the private
> army of the EIC, who re captured Calcutta in 1757, among other
> exploits.  Became British Goveneur of Bengal in the 1 756-1762 time
> period.  Made a Baron in 1862.

And is popularly (though not definitely) thought to have committed
suicide in 1774. Samuel Johnson has a go at him:

     "Will you not allow, sir, that vice does not hurt a man's
     character so as to obstruct his prosperity in life, when you know
     that [Lord Clive] was loaded with wealth and honours; a man who had
     acquired his fortune by such crimes, that his consciousness of them
     impelled him to cut his own throat."   
     (Boswell, *Life of Johnson*, Tues 12th May 1778)

Boswell defends Clive: "...he cut his throat becasue he was weary of
still life; little things not being sufficient to move his great mind."
Whatever the truth of the matter, Clive of India is an emblem of the
double-sided 18c; adored by the people as a symbol of national
greatness, he was afflicted with fits of depression and guilt, hence his
well-known use of opium, as mentioned by Mason on p.141. Maskelyne's
failure to use the influence of his brother-in-law is partly explained
by his realising the limits of this influence, and partly (I assume) by
fears that he will go the way of his brother-in-law.


Best,


Adam Rounce