TORRES, Camilo (tor'-rays), Colombian statesman, born in Popayan, 22 November, 1766; died in Bogota, 5 October, 1816. He received his education in his native city, where he studied Latin, Greek, and philosophy, and was graduated in law. He served on several commissions for his government, and was considered at that time the first jurist of New Granada. On 20 July, 1810, he joined the patriot cause. The congress of Leiva nominated him, 4 October, 1812, president of the federation, but Antenio Narifio did not acknowledge the authority of congress, and refused to enter the confederacy. In 1814, during the triumvirate, he was president of congress, and as such assisted Bolivar to subdue the unitarian government of Bogota and to prepare an expedition against Santa Marta and Venezuela. After the landing of General Pablo Morillo in July, 1815, congress elected Tortes supreme chief of the nation on 15 November, but, on the approach of Morillo and Calzada, he saw the hopelessness of resistance, and resigning, 14 March, 1816, fled to the south. He was captured by the Spaniards in Buenaventura, whence he was expecting to sail for Buenos Ayres, transported to Bogota, and, with three other leaders, shot by order of Morillo.