Sachtouris was born in Hydra in 1796 to a family of Arvanite origin.

Following the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence, he became a leading commander of the Hydriot ships, and participated in the naval battles of Patras, Spetses, Samos, Gerontas, and others, as well as in the failed raid on Alexandria.

With the establishment of the independent Kingdom of Greece, Sachtouris joined the Royal Hellenic Navy, receiving the rank of vice admiral and serving in several senior commands.

His sons Dimitrios and Konstantinos likewise became naval officers.

The Greek navy named a 1834-built gunboat, a World War II-era Flower-class corvette, and a Gearing-class destroyer after him.