Manuel Torres (diplomat)

Manuel Torres
1st Colombian Chargé d'affaires to the United States
In office June 19, 1822 (1822-06-19) – (1822-07-15)July 15, 1822
President	Simón Bolívar
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	José María Salazar [es]
Personal details
Born	November 1762 (1762-11) Córdoba, Bourbon Spain
Died	July 15, 1822 (aged 59) Hamilton Village, Philadelphia, U.S.
Resting place	St. Mary's Church 39°56′44″N 75°08′54″W / 39.94563°N 75.14838°W / 39.94563; -75.14838
Signature

Manuel de Trujillo y Torres (November 1762 – July 15, 1822) was a Colombian publicist and diplomat. He is best known for being received as the first ambassador of Colombia by U.S. President James Monroe on June 19, 1822. This act represented the first U.S. recognition of a former Spanish colony's independence.

Born in Spain, he lived as a young adult in the colony of New Granada (present-day Colombia). After being implicated in a conspiracy against the monarchy he fled in 1794, arriving in the United States in 1796. From Philadelphia he spent the rest of his life advocating for independence of the Spanish colonies in the Americas. Working closely with newspaper editor William Duane he produced English- and Spanish-language articles, pamphlets and books.

During the Spanish American wars of independence he was a central figure in directing the work of revolutionary agents in North America, who frequently visited his home. In 1819 Torres was appointed a diplomat for Venezuela, which that year united with New Granada to form Gran Colombia. As chargé d'affaires he negotiated significant weapons purchases but failed to obtain public loans. Having laid the groundwork for the diplomatic recognition of Colombia, he died less than a month after achieving this goal. Though largely unknown today, he is remembered as an early proponent of Pan-Americanism.