He was born in King Edward, Aberdeenshire on 27 December 1763, son of Thomas Torry and Jane Watson. He married twice, firstly in 1787 to Christian Kilgour (died 11 May 1789), daughter of the Rt Revd Robert Kilgour, Bishop of Aberdeen, and secondly in September 1791 to Jane Young, daughter of William Young and Ann Gordon.
He was ordained in the Anglican ministry as a deacon in 1782 and a priest in 1783. His first pastoral appointment was as the incumbent at Arradoul and Fochabers from 1782 to 1789, followed by incumbent at Peterhead from 1789 to June 1837. He was consecrated as Bishop of Dunkeld and Dunblane at Aberdeen on 12 October 1808 by Primus Skinner, with bishops Macfarlane and Jolly serving as co-consecrators.
His united sees were merged with the bishopric of Fife in 1837, with the combined episcopal title was renamed to Bishop of Street Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane in 1844.
He died in office at Peterhead on 3 October 1852, aged 88, and was buried at Street Ninian"s Cathedral, Perth.
