Racket-tail is a popular name for several species of humming birds of the genus Steganura, having two of the tail feathers very long and racket-shaped. Research Racket-Tail
Robert Clive, LordClive and Baron of Plassey, was the principal founder of the British Empire in India. He is also known as Clive of India. He was born in 1725 at Market Drayton and died in 1774. As a child he formed a protection racket and demanded money from the local shop keepers.
When he was nineteen years old he entered the East India Company's service at Madras as a writer, but in 1747 quit the civil for the military service. It was a perilous time for British interests in India. The French under Dupleix had gained important privileges and large grants of territory, and in alliance with Chunda Sahib, nabob of Arcot,were threatening the very existence of the British establishments.
In 1751 Robert Clive, who had already a reputation for skill and courage, marched on the large city of Arcot with 200 British troops and 300 Sepoys, and took it, although strongly garrisoned, without a blow, withstood a siege by Ghunda Sahib for nearly two months, and at last routed the enemy, took possession of important posts, and returned to Madras completely victorious.
In 1753 he sailed to England to recover his health, and was received with much honour. Two years later he was back in India, in his governorship of St David's, from which he was soon summoned to command the expedition sent to Bengal, where the nabobSuraj-ud-Dowlah had attacked the British, destroyed their factories, taken Calcutta, and suffocated over 120 of his prisoners in the Black Hole. Robert Clive soon took possession of Calcutta and brought Suraj-ud-Dowlah to terms, but having no trust in the loyal intentions of the nabob he resolved to dethrone him. With the help of Meer Jaffier, one of the nabob's officers, he effected his purpose, and in the Battle of Plassey completely overthrew Suraj-ud-Dowlah's forces. Meer Jaffier now became the new nabob, and Robert Clive was made governor of Calcutta. Here he was equally successful against the encroachments of the Dutch, defeating their forces both by sea and land.
Robert Clive now visited England again, where his success was highly applauded without much inquiry as to the means; and in 1761 he was raised to the Irish peerage with the title of LordClive, Baron of Plassey. In 1764 fresh troubles in India brought him back, but now as president of Bengal, with command of the troops there. Before his arrival, however, Major Adams had already defeated the Nabob of Oude, and Robert Clive had only the arranging of the treaty by which the Company obtained the disposal of all the revenues of Bengal, Bahar, and Orissa.
In 1767 he finally returned to England. In 1773 a motion supported by the minister was made in the House of Commons, that 'LordClive had abused the powers with which he was intrusted;' but it was rejected for a resolution that 'LordClive had rendered great and meritorious services to his country.' His health was by this time broken, and in one of his habitual fits of melancholy he committed suicide on November the 22nd, 1774.
Robert Clive was of a reserved temper, although among his intimate friends he could be lively and pleasant. He was always self-directed and secret in his decisions, but inspired those under his command with the utmost confidence, owing to his bravery and presence of mind. In private life he was kind and exceedingly liberal. He married the sister of the astronomer - royal Dr. Maskelyne. Research Robert Clive
Crime Ring is a crime drama starring Allan Lane in a story about a journalist who breaks a fortune-telling racket. Crime Ring was directed by Leslie Goodwins. Research Crime Ring
Death Drums Along The River is a crime thriller starring Richard Todd, Marianne Koch, Vivi Bach and Albert Lieven in a story about a British policeman uncovering a diamond smuggling racket while investigating the murder of a policeman in Africa. Death Drums Along The River was directed by Lawrence Huntington in 1963. Research Death Drums Along The River
Enter The Dragon is a martial arts adventure starring Bruce Lee, John Saxon, Jim Kelly, Kien Shih, Bob Wall, Ahna Capri and Angela Mao Ying in a story about a martial arts expert recruited by British intelligence to smash an opium and prostitution racket run from an island fortress by a criminal mastermind. Enter The Dragon was directed by Robert Clouse in 1973. Research Enter The Dragon
Get Carter is a thriller starring Michael Caine, John Osborne, Ian Hendry and Britt Ekland in a story about a London villain who sets out to avenge the death of his brother at the hands of a gangland killing in Newcastle, only to find his teenage neice is also being abused in a pornographic film racket. Get Carter was directed by Mike Hodges in 1971. Research Get Carter
On Seventh Avenue is a drama starring Wendy Makkena, Stephen Collins, Damian Chapa, Liz Coke and Lara Harris in a story about a designer's daughter taking over his fashion house after he is beaten up by the mob for missing a protection racket payment. On Seventh Avenue was directed by Jeff Bleckner in 1996. Research On Seventh Avenue
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
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