Background
Torrens was born in Derry, Ireland in 1779. He was the youngest son of the Reverend Thomas Torrens and his wife Elizabeth Curry.
Torrens was born in Derry, Ireland in 1779. He was the youngest son of the Reverend Thomas Torrens and his wife Elizabeth Curry.
He lost both his parents at an early age, and was educated at a military academy in Dublin.
The family was of Swedish origin. Torrens was commissioned as an ensign into the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot in 1793 at the age of 14. In 1796 he served under Abercrombie in the West Indies, where he displayed great bravery, was wounded, and rewarded with a company.
He served in Portugal in 1798.
In Holland under the Duke of York in 1799. And afterwards in Nova Scotia, Egypt, and India.
In 1799 Torrens went to Den Helder where he was involved in battles at Hoorne and at Egmond aan Zee: at the latter he was wounded by a bullet. In 1805 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
After seeing service at Buenos Aries in 1807, he accompanied Sir Arthur Wellesley as military secretary to Portugal in 1808, and was present at the battles of Roliça and Vimiera.
Torrens rose to be appointed Military Secretary in 1809.
