Francisca Prieto y Ricaurte de Torres

Other names/titles:
Gender: F
Ethnic origin: White

Biographical details

From Bogotá, she was part of the González Manrique, Alvarez, Ricaurte, París, Pardo, Nariño clan. (Monsalve, 139)

She married Camilo Torres on 4 July 1802. They hosted meetings for patriots around 1810. (Monsalve, 36) Cousin of Manuela Sanz de Santamaría de González Manrique. (Monsalve, 89, 165) Mother of Martina Torres Prieto de Cárdenas, Eusebia Torres Prieto de Arboleda, Jerónimo Torres, Epifanio Torres and Juliana Torres. She was beautiful, kind, cultured, intelligent and educated. (Monsalve, 165-166, 174)

On 14 August 1810 she was among a group of women who insisted that the Viceroy and his wife, Francisca Villanova, be given safe conduct from the prisons in which they'd been held overnight and returned to the Viceroy's palace. (Monsalve, 94)

In August 1816 she was forced into exiled by Morillo with her children. She was probably held in the Cárcel Chiquita beforehand. They had to walk to the town of Espinal. (Monsalve, 161) Before Torres was executed, Prieto was in Espinal for health reasons. On 30 June (1816?) all the belongings she had with her were confiscated and she was made to return to Bogotá. Afterwards all of her possessions were taken (including household utensils and a thimble). (Monsalve, 159, 165)

In November 1821 Bolívar awarded her an annual pension of 1,000 pesos. He wrote, "la viuda del más respetable ciudadano de la antigua República de Nueva Granada, se halla reducida a una espantosa miseria, mientras yo gozo de trienta mil pesos de sueldo. Así he venido en ceder a la ciudadana Francisca Prieto mil pesos anuales de los que a mí me corresponden. En consecuencia, sirvase Vuestra Excelencia ordenar se le satisfaca la mensualidad correspondiente, descontándoseme a mí. Dios guarde a Vuestra Excelencia muchos años. Bolívar, Cuartel General en Bogotá a 6 de noviembre de 1821." (Monsalve, 167)

Life Events

Married	1802	She married Camilo Torres.
Other	1810	She hosted tertulias and was among a group of women who released the Viceroy and his wife from prison on 14 August 1810.
Other	1816	She was exiled to Espinal by Morillo in August 1816.
Other	1821	Bolívar awarded her an annual pension in November 1821.