Cappeller was born in
Willisau in 1685 and grew up in the city of
Lucerne. After finishing Latin school, he graduated from the Jesuit College in Lucerne. From 1700 to 1704, he studied mathematics and philosophy at the Collegium Helveticum in
Milan. He completed his medical studies at the Lorraine Academy (later
University of Lorraine) in
Pont-à-Mousson in 1706. During the
War of the Spanish Succession, he served as a doctor and engineer in
Naples. In addition to his work in the imperial service, he also had time for scientific observations. He climbed
Mount Vesuvius twice and lay down on the edge of the crater. He later published his observations under the title:
Curieuse Relation von dem feuerspeuchtenden Berg Vesuvio. He turned down an offer of a professorship in Naples. At his father's request, Cappeller returned to Lucerne in 1710, where he took over his father's medical practice. From 1712 to 1754 he was the town doctor in Lucerne. From 1717 on, he was a member of the Lucerne Grand Council. In addition to his bread-and-butter work as a doctor, he was repeatedly able to apply his knowledge as an engineer. For example, he accompanied the Lucerne troops in the
Toggenburg War as an engineer. He was also a teacher of mathematics and geometry at the artillery school. He played a key role in correcting the white water of the Krienbach. caused an international sensation and earned him membership of the
Royal Society of London. His main work, the history of the
Mount Pilatus (
Pilatii montis historia), which he worked on from 1723 to 1728, did not initially find a publisher. For the first time, Cappeller produced a map of the mountain using only two perspectives drawn from different viewpoints. His research activities were varied; his interests included rock science, botany, crystallography and surveying. He was also involved in a wide network of correspondents. He corresponded with
Johann Jakob Scheuchzer,
Albrecht von Haller, Abraham Gagnebin,
Isaak Iselin, Josef Anton Felix Balthasar, the
nuncio Domenico Silvio Passionei, but also with members of the Royal Society (including
Hans Sloane, to whom he also sent some minerals). In 1730, Cappeller was elected a member of the
German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina with the academic surname
Archyta Tarentinus I. After the death of his wife, Cappeller moved to his son in
Ruswil in 1754 and, when he became a
canon, to
Beromünster. He died on 19 September 1769, and was buried in the cloister of the canons' monastery in Beromünster. == References ==