Vicente Almeida d'Eça

Vice-Admiral Vicente Manuel de Moura Coutinho de Almeida d'Eça (born July 31, 1918) was the last Governor, then High Commissioner of Portuguese Cape Verde from 1974 to its 1975 independence from Portugal.

d'Eça joined the Portuguese Navy in 1936 as a Cadet and graduated from the Naval Academy 3 years later as an Ensign. His course's patron was Henry the Navigator and this was the first course to attend classes at the new Naval Academy in Alfeite. He was one of the last aviators of the Portuguese Navy and throughout his career he served the Navy in many important and distinguished assignments.

At least twice in his career Almeida d'Eça saved drowning victims. In 1938 while still a cadet he saved a woman who was trying to commit suicide in the Tagus River. In 1944 he rescued a Seaman from drowning in Ponta Delgada/The Azores.

Gold Medal for Distinguished Services

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