The East India Company: Laying the Foundations for British Colonial Domination of India, 1752–1774 - Key Data

Containing over 24,000 images, this collection is one of several curated by BOA that document British colonial rule in India. The sources show how the burgeoning commercial and political power of the East India Company (EIC) developed into British rule of the Indian subcontinent. Drawing upon the papers of two of its influential personalities, Colonel Robert Clive and Brigadier-General John Carnac, the collection offers insights into the ways in which the EIC became increasingly powerful as a result of the weakening of the Mughal empire during the eighteenth century. The collection covers significant events, such as the “Black Hole of Calcutta” incident that occurred in 1756, the battle of Plassey in 1757, and the British military expedition against the Dutch during 1759. 

Clive joined the EIC in Madras in 1743. He was appointed governor of Fort St David in 1755 and subsequently governor of Bengal. Amassing great wealth, he was pivotal in establishing British rule—his victory at Plassey secured Britain a key foothold in India. In 1758, Carnac joined the EIC with the rank of captain and went on to serve as the company’s commander-in-chief. Throughout 1760–1761, he defeated the forces of the Mughal empire. These were backed by the French. He worked in tandem with Clive—military responsibility passed from one to the other. Together, these figures expanded British influence across India. Thus, this collection surveys a crucial transitional period during which the balance of power on the subcontinent was reshaped.