By 1772 the Company was in financial trouble due to problems in Bengal and Madras. The usual solution was to ask Clive to return but this was not an option this time. Over the previous years those jealous of Clive's reputation and wealth had tried to destroy his reputation by accusing him of financial irregularities while he was in India. By 1772 a Select Committee of the House of Commons had been set up to investigate the East India Company and its affairs. This Committee was however to turn its attentions on Clive under the prompting of Clive's enemies. Foremost was Lawrence Sullivan, a Director of the East India Company and a long time foe of Clive's and Colonel John Burgoyn.
In the midst of this the financial situation of the Company became so serious that it had to ask the Government for a one million pound loan. The Government had for some time been looking at ways to take control of the East India Company and this gave them an opportunity. A second committee, the Secret Committee, was set up to investigate the affairs of the Company. Both committees came together to accuse Clive of accepting bribes and abusing his power after Plassey and the Select Committee placed before the House of Commons resolutions seeking to blame Clive for corruption and demanding repayment of some 230,000 pounds. Clive defended himself before the House pointing out his service to his King and the Company he had worked for.
After much debate and some rethinking on its part the House formally recognised Clive's great service in India and all charges of corruption were dismissed. Clive was now certain of his fabulous wealth and was the most famous and popular general in England. North, the Prime Minister, seeing the trouble brewing in the American Colonies was considering offering Clive command of the British army which would face the forthcoming rebellion.
At the pinnacle of his fame with a great past and the prospect of an even greater future Robert Clive died on the 22nd November 1774. He was 49.
His death, like much of his life, is surrounded in mystery. Some claim that the ill health he had suffered for much of his life lead him to take an accidental overdose of laudanum. Others that, wracked with pain which he could no longer endure he plunged a knife into his own throat. The mystery is added to by the actions of his family who transport the body back to Shropshire and bury it with no ceremony of any kind. Indeed it is not until many years later that his final resting place is discovered in the small church in Morton Say and a simple plaque erected stating:
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