Establishment of a Trading Settlement by Job Charnock on August 24, 1690
1690 · Calcutta, India
Job Charnock, often credited as the founder of the city of Calcutta (now Kolkata), establishes a trading settlement in the region.
Recapture of Calcutta by the British East India Company
On January 2, 1757, Robert Clive of the British East India Company successfully recaptured Calcutta (now Kolkata), India. This operation was a critical event in the British efforts to consolidate control over the Bengal region, a crucial aspect of establishing British dominance in India.
Background
In the early 18th century, the British East India Company had established a trading base in Calcutta. However, in 1756, the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah, seized the city, reacting against the Company’s fortification of the settlement without his consent. His forces captured Calcutta, leading to the infamous incident known as the “Black Hole of Calcutta,” where numerous British prisoners allegedly died in confinement.
Key Events Leading to Recapture
Reinforcement Arrival: Understanding the strategic importance of Calcutta, the British sent a fleet under Vice-Admiral Charles Watson and a military force led by Robert Clive from Madras.
Initial Engagements: Clive landed near Calcutta and began a campaign to retake the city. His forces launched a series of successful skirmishes to destabilize the Nawab’s control.
Siege and Recapture: The attack on Calcutta commenced with a combined naval and land assault. The British forces used artillery advantageously, bombarding positions held by the Nawab. After fierce fighting, the British regained control on January 2, 1757.
Consequences and Historical Significance
Treaty of Alinagar: Following the recapture, a temporary peace treaty, known as the Treaty of Alinagar, was signed with the Nawab on February 9, 1757. The treaty restored the Company’s privileges and the status quo.
Prelude to Plassey: The recapture set the stage for the decisive Battle of Plassey later in June 1757, where Clive’s forces defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah. This victory marked the beginning of British political and military dominance in India.
Economic and Political Impact: Control over Calcutta allowed the British to expand economically and politically, laying the foundation for the British colonial rule in India that lasted until 1947.
The recapture of Calcutta was a turning point in British colonial history, dramatically altering the political landscape of the Indian subcontinent.