Educated at Harrow, Clive was commissioned as an ensign in the Rifle Brigade on 18 August 1854 and then transferred to the Grenadier Guards as ensign and lieutenant on 8 December that year. He served in the Eastern campaign from 1855 to 1856, after the fall of Sevastopol; this was his only war service. He was appointed an Instructor of Musketry in his regiment on 30 April 1857 and purchased his promotion to lieutenant and captain on 17 July. He was promoted to captain and lieutenant-colonel, again by purchase, on 8 March 1864, and on completion of the qualifying period of service was granted brevet rank as colonel on 4 March 1876. He became major in the Grenadier Guards on 11 October 1879 and lieutenant-colonel on 7 August 1880, and commanded the regiment from 1880 until he was placed on half-pay, 27 July 1885, and granted local rank as a brigadier-general while commanding the Brigade of Guards in Cyprus.