How did Robert Clive recapture Calcutta in 1757?
After the nawab of Bengal, Sirāj al-Dawlah, captured Calcutta and Fort William in 1756, the British East India Company organized a relief expedition from Madras to reclaim the city.123
Robert Clive was placed in command of this force, which consisted of 900 European soldiers and 1,500 Indian troops. Clive set out in October 1756 and successfully recaptured Calcutta on January 2, 1757, with the assistance of British admiral Charles Watson. Following this victory, Clive forced the nawab to restore the company’s trading privileges, pay compensation for losses, and grant the British permission to fortify the city. This successful recapture served as a precursor to the Battle of Plassey later that year, which ultimately secured British dominance in the region.123