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Suraj-Ud-Dowlah

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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SURAJ-UD-DOWLAH (d. 1757), ruler of Bengal. The date of his birth is uncertain, but is generally placed between 1729 and 1736. His name was Mirza Mahommed, and he succeeded his grandfather Aliverdi Khan as nawab of Bengal on the 9th of April 1756. He was a cruel and profligate fanatic. Being offended with the English for giving protection to a native official who had escaped with treasure from Dacca, he attacked and took Calcutta on the 20th of June 1756. He then permitted the massacre known in history as "The Black Hole of Calcutta" (see Calcutta). This atrocious act was soon avenged. Calcutta was retaken by Clive and Admiral Watson on the 2nd of January 1757, and on the 23rd of June, Suraj-ud-Dowlah, routed at Plassey, fled to Rajmahal, where he was captured. He was put to death on the 4th of July 1757 at Murshidabad, by order of Miran, son of Mir Jafar, who had conspired against Suraj-ud-Dowlah and had been present at Plassey without taking part in the battle.