In the obituary of one of Capel's daughters, he was described as "an intellectual, politician, tycoon, polo-player and the dashing lover and sponsor of the fashion designer Coco Chanel".[2] There are hints in biographies of Chanel about Capel's reputed (illegitimate) connections with the Capel Earls of Essex but no connection has been established: his paternal family originated in Ireland.[3] He was already an apparently wealthy self-made man by 1909.[citation needed] An alumnus of Beaumont College,[citation needed] Capel was killed in an auto accident on Monday 22 December 1919,allegedly en route to a Christmas rendezvous with Chanel. He was buried with full military honours at Fréjus Cathedral on 24 December 1919.