[1] He moved to the United States as a young man and settled in Beverly, Massachusetts, around 1891.

[2] Torrey was a member of the Beverly City Council for seven years and the Board of Alderman for three.

He defeated Matthew S. Heaphy with a plurality of 261 votes in one of the closest elections in the city's history.

[6] A blacksmith by trade, Torrey also worked in auto repair, was treasurer of Cabot Welding Co. and the Lite-Rite Manufacturing Co., and a vice president and trustee of the Beverly Savings Bank.

[1][2][7] After leaving politics, Torrey continued to operate blacksmith a shop until his death on August 14, 1954, at the age of 85.