(1725–74)
an English soldier and administrator. He is also known as ‘Clive of India’ because he played a major part in making India part of the British Empire . While working for the East India Company , he fought against the French and broke their power in India. Then at the battle of Plassey (1757) Clive defeated the ruler of the Indian state of Bengal and replaced him with a ruler who allowed the British to govern Bengal through him. This was the beginning of a system that later spread through most of India.