He received his law degree from the University of Havana. When the Revolution began in 1895 Torriente was active in the revolutionary clubs of Matanzas, and in March of that year he embarked for the United States to take part in the filibustering expeditions there being organized. De la Torriente was a Colonel in the Spanish–American War.
He was president of the League of Nations from 1923 until 1924.
He died on 7 December 1956 in Havana.
