Expansion of British Power

Expansion of British Power in the context of Bangal

» Murshil Quli Khan (1717-27)
In 1717, Murshid Quli Khan was appointed as Bengal's Subedar i.e. governor by Mughal emperor Farrukh Siyar. Grant fo Governorship of Orissa also to him by Farrukh Siyar in 1719. He transfered the capital of Bengal from Dacca to Murshidabad.

» Shujauddin (1727-39)
He was the son-in-law of Murshid Quli, granted the Governorship of Bihar by Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah 'Rangeela' in 1733.

» Sarfaraj Khan (1739-40)
Ho was the son of Shujauddin and was murdered by Alivardi Khan, the Deputy Governor of Bihar, in 1740.

» Alivardi Khan (1740-56)
Legalised his usurpation by receiving a farman from Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah 'Rangeela' after paying him Rs. 2 Crores. He prevented the English and the French from fortifying their factories at Calcutta and Chandranagore respectively.

Sirajuddaula ( 1756 - 57 )

» Alivardi Khan was succeeded by his grandson Sirajuddaula.
» Sirajuddaula seized the English factory at Kasimbazar. On 20th June, 1756, Fort William surrendered but Robert Clive recovered Calcutta.
» On 2nd Jan. 1757, Treaty of Alinagar was signed, where by Siraj conceded practically all the demands. British then captured Chandranagore, the French settlement, on March 1757.
» The Battle of Plassey was fought on 23 June, 1757. Owing to the conspiracy, the Nawab was defeated.

Mir Jafar ( 1757 - 60 )

» The company was granted undisputed right to free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. It received the zamindari of 24 Parganas. Mir Jafar, however, fell into arrears and was forced to abdicate in favour of his son-in-law Mir Qasim.

Mir Qasim ( 1760 - 64 )

» Mir Qasim ceded Burdwan, Midnapore and Chittagong. He shifted his capital from Murshidabad to Munger.
» Mir Qasim soon revolted as he was angry with the British for misusing the dastak (free duty passes). However, having been defeated by the British, he fled to Awadh, where he formed a confederacy with Awadh ruler Shujauddaula and Mughal emperor Shah Alam II.
» The Battle of Buxar (1764): Mir Qasim, Shujauddaula and Shah Alam II were defeated by Munro.
» Mir Jafar was again placed on the throne.
» On Mir Jafar's death, his son Nazmuddaula was placed on the throne and signed a treaty on 20th Feb., 1765 by which the Nawab was to disband most of his army and to administer Bengal through a Deputy Subedar nominated by the Company.
» Clive concluded two separate treaties of Allahabad with Shah Alam II (12 Aug., 1765) and Shujauddaula (16 Aug., 1765).

Dual Government of Bengal ( 1765 - 72 )

» Dual Government of Bengal started in 1765.
» The Company acquired both Diwani and Nizamat rights from Nazmuddaula, the Nawab of Bengal. But the company did not take over direct administration and revenue collection.
» Warren Hastings ended the dual system of government in 1772.