Stewart Henbest Capper

Stewart Henbest Capper, architect, educator, army officer (b at London, Eng Dec 1859; d at Cairo, Egypt 8 Jan 1925). He graduated in classics from Edinburgh University 1880 and in 1884 entered the École des beaux-arts, Paris. Returning to Edinburgh 1887, he soon set up his own practice. Through William Peterson, principal of McGill in Montréal, and G. Baldwin Brown, former colleagues at Edinburgh, Capper became the first Macdonald Professor of Architecture at McGill 1896-1903. He initiated practical and theoretical training based on his knowledge of European architecture and encouraged the study of architectural history and the development of national architectural styles. He held a similar position at Victoria University in Manchester until his resignation in 1912 for health reasons.

He continued a military career, begun in Montréal, as a major in the Manchester Volunteers, and went to Egypt in 1914. Declared unfit for active duty, he became a military censor because of his extensive knowledge of languages. After demobilization he continued similar work in Cairo.