 Born in Greenbrier County, Virginia (now West Virginia), Caperton was a planter and engaged in mercantile pursuits as a young man.He moved to Monroe County, Virginia which he became sheriff of in 1805 and became a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1810, serving until 1813.He was elected a Federalist to the United States House of Representatives in 1812, serving from 1813 to 1815 and later returned to the House of Delegates from 1826 to 1830.