Capreol, Frederick Chase, 1803-1886 : Frederick Chase Capreol was born 10 June 1803 at Bishop's Stortford, Herfordshire, England; the son of Thomas and Fanny Capreol. Capreol arrived in Canada in 1828 and for the next two years he resided in Montreal and worked for the North West Fur Company. Capreol went back to England in 1830 but returned to Canada in 1833. He landed in New York where he married a Miss Skyring, whom he had met during the crossing and the couple continued to York, Upper Canada where they settled.
Capreol's main occupation was the operation of an auction room which he opened in 1833 and continued until about 1850. In July 1848 Capreol began to promote the building of a railway from Toronto to Georgian Bay. Capreol was instrumental in securing royal assent for the road and in August 1849 he was appointed a director of the board of the Toronto, Simcoe and Lake Huron Union Rail-road Company, later renamed the Northern Railway Company of Canada. Capreol was fired from his position two days before the sod-turning ceremony in 1851. In 1853 he became the first president of the Metropolitan Gas and Water Company, and in 1863, with 2 partners, he incorporated the General Manufacturing Company of Peel. This attempt at the manufacturing of cotton products failed. From 1865 until the 1880s Capreol promoted the idea of building a canal to link lakes Huron and Ontario, a scheme which also ultimately failed.
Capreol attempted to enter elected politics on several occasions. He ran repeatedly after 1843 in St. George's Ward for election to Toronto City Council. Until 1853 he always lost, generally finishing last. But in a by-election late in that year Capreol was finally elected to the council. He sat on council for only two months. In 1842, running as an independent in Toronto, Capreol made his first foray into provincial politics. He finished last. After confederation he attempted twice, without success, to gain election to the Ontario legislature. In his first attempt, in 1872, he failed to receive a single vote. Capreol died 12 October 1886 at Toronto, Ontario.
