….DECISION" OF 1767
"India, the fabled land of rubies, diamonds, gold, tigers, and mystery, captured the imagination of the British people in the mid 1700s. Robert Clive provided fodder for gossip when he returned to England in 1760 with a reported "£1,200,000 in cash, bills, and jewels. He is said to be the richest subject in the three realms"[1] Along with tales of unlimited wealth for those fortunate enough to go to India, were the stories of corruption, brutality, and profiteering by the employees of East India Company.
Founded in 1600 with a Royal Charter as a trade monopoly between Britain and the Mogul Empire of India, the East India Company would eventually make its directors more potent than most kings. The company's private army, built initially to guard their warehouses, conquered Bengal, the wealthiest state in India, during the battle of Plassey in 1757 under the leadership of Robert Clive. That victory made the company the controller and tax collector of over one hundred million people. Following the battle, Clive received "£2.5 million (over £250.00 GBP million in today's currency) from the Bengal treasury for the Company and £160,000.00 GBP for himself."[2] Following a victory at Buxar in 1766, the price of the company's stock increased 263 percent…"
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Amicalement
Armand
paints brigs for the British fleet.
