Théodore Pescatore

Théodore Pescatore (6 February 1802 – 23 August 1878) was a Luxembourgish politician. One of the most important liberals in the mid-19th century, he was president of the Constituent Assembly that wrote Luxembourg's Constitution in 1848. He later held the position of President of the Chamber of Deputies for two years.

Pescatore studied law at the University of Liège, but, instead of pursuing a career in the law, Pescatore attended a military academy in the Netherlands, and, upon returning to Luxembourg, in 1827, he was recruited as a lieutenant into the guard of Luxembourg City.

In 1841, he was appointed to the 'Commission of Nine' in the Hague that advised the King-Grand Duke on the Luxembourgish issues, including the drafting of a constitution. From 30 October 1841, he was a member of the Assembly of Estates for Mersch, and entered the Commission of Government under the governor, Gaspard-Théodore-Ignace de la Fontaine.

He was elected to the 1848 Constituent Assembly, representing Luxembourg canton. Appointed the first chair of the constituent assembly, he advocated heavy involvement with the Frankfurt Parliament. Despite having been in government before 1848, he showed no interest in returning afterwards, He decided to resign as deputy as well, but returned when re-elected at the head of the liberals' list in Luxembourg canton on 30 November 1857. He returned as president of the Chamber, being elected by 21 votes to 3. He held this position until 1866, when he stood down as president, and he retired as a deputy in 1869.

Pescatore died on 23 August 1878 after a long illness.

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