Jacobus Elisa Johannes Capitein (c. 1717 – 1 February 1747) was a Dutch writer, Calvinist clergyman and missionary best known for being the first individual of African descent to be ordained as a minister in an established Protestant church.

[1] With the support of Dutch theologian and Protestant minister Henrik Velse, Capitein began studying at the Gymnasium Haganum, a public school, in 1731 "so that, God willing, I might afterwards show my people the way to a better religion, since they need to be diverted from their cult of idolatry.

[11] The dissertation, which was dedicated to Capitein's burgher patrons (and immediately published as a treatise after it was given under the title of Is Slavery Compatible with Christian Freedom or Not?)

According to historian Grant Parker, the fact that the dissertation was immediately published after Capitein defended it indicated "that [his work] had a wider audience beyond academe.

[2][8] Capitein had written about his desire to pursue missionary work in his 1742 treatise, and entered into the employ of the WIC, which had a need for Christian chaplains in Elmina Castle.

Capitein eventually decided to travel to Elmina, a decision which was supported by the Dutch Reformed Church, which had ordained him for that specific purpose.

[8] On 8 October, Capitein arrived in Elmina, which by this point had become a virtual colony of the WIC; most of the local population were African and resided in a village next to the castle.

[8][12] Capitein was charged by his superiors with ministering to the Dutch merchants, clerks and soldiers in the employ of the WIC who were stationed in Elmina Castle.

[13] He established separate places of worship for African Christians, preached sermons using native languages, maintained daily contact with new converts, and trained local neophytes as missionaries.

[1] His ministering efforts among Elmina's African population eventually led Capitein to falling in love with a local woman in February 1743, who he soon became engaged to.

[14] Once WIC authorities in the Dutch Republic heard about the engagement, they sent Capitein orders expressly forbidding him from marrying the woman due to her not being Christian.

[8] While ministering in Elmina, Capitein was paid a meagre salary by the WIC, who expected him to supplement his income by engaging in private business ventures.

[1] After his death, a fellow WIC employee wrote a letter noting that in addition to his large debts, Capitein also suffered from alcoholism while residing in Elmina.

[20] While in Elmina, Capitein translated the Bible (along with other Christian texts) from Dutch into the Fante dialect as part of his missionary efforts with the local population.