Theodorico de Sacadura Botte

Theodorico César de Sande Pacheco de Sacadura Botte (Quinta da Bica, Portugal, 31 October 1902 - Maputo, Mozambique, 18 November 1987), commonly known as Theodorico de Sacadura Botte, was a Portuguese colonial administrator and entrepreneur.

Born into a Portuguese rural aristocratic family, Sacadura Botte left Lisbon and moved to the Portuguese African Overseas during the Portuguese State's takeover of colonial administration from the British-owned private companies to which it was formerly commissioned. After many years as a colonial officer, and having been administrator of two different districts, as well as Chief of Cabinet of the Governor of Mozambique, he became an entrepreneur and businessman, with interests in international trade, real estate, horticulture and agriculture.

After the fall of the Portuguese Estado Novo regime, Mozambique was granted independence, which was followed by a wave of nationalization of Portuguese-owned properties and businesses, as well as, in many cases, persecution of Portuguese nationals. Although Sacadura Botte saw most of his property confiscated and his family and friends exiled, he remained in Mozambique and acknowledged the new regime, thus earning the respect of the new leaders. This has also been attributed to the fact that he was considered a just and kind governor by the people under his rule during both his tenure as district administrator.

In his final years, he wrote a memoir, titled "Memórias e Autobiografia: 24 anos em Portugal e 60 em Africa" (Memoirs and Autobiography: 24 years in Portugal and 60 in Africa), which told his life story and is considered a great instrument of insight into the final years of the Portuguese Overseas Empire, as well as an interesting account of most of the 20th century through the eyes of a member of the last generation of Portuguese colonialists.

Theodorico de Sacadura Botte died in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, on 18 November 1987, aged 85.