Torcuato José Benjumeda y Laguada was born in El Puerto de Santa María on 4 January 1757. He was the son of Miguel Benjumeda and María Laguada.  His parents were married in the Iglesia Prioral de El Puerto de Santa María in 1756. His father was born in Málaga.  His father was the son of Francisco de Benjumea and of Ana Francisca de Gálves.  His mother was from Saint Pedayna in Génova.  She was the daughter of Cayetano Laguada and of Rosa Bertorela. Torcuato was baptized on 9 January in the Prioral.  This was because his godfather was the architect Torcuato Cayón. 