Dictionary of Indian Biography/Capper

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CAPPER ( ? –1809)

Colonel in the Madras Army : influential in the affairs of Fort St. George in the latter part of the 18th century : on more than one occasion was employed by the Governors in civil and ecclesiastical negotiations : as, e.g. in 1787. in the time of Sir Archibald Campbell, when the Council had to settle important matters with regard to the Roman Catholic population of Madras, and French influence had to be excluded : saw active service and fought "with spirit and gallantry" at Arikera, under Colonel Montresor, 1800 : distinguished himself under Wellesley : became Lt-Colonel and Adjutant-General. When Sir George Barlow was Governor of Madras, Capper became implicated in the disputes between General Hay Macdowall, C. in C. of the Madras Army, and the Civil Authorities, 1809 : Macdowall had resigned in Jan. and left for England : the responsibility of publishing his Army Order against Munro (which gave further offence to the Madras Government) rested with Colonel Capper, and his suspension was the result : he, too, started for England, but was lost at sea on the voyage, March, 1809.