Raul Toro was born September 23, 1897, the second son of Juan and Maria Toro. He had one brother, Policarpo, who served as a general in Chile's military police. At the age of sixteen, on a fishing trip through the nearby islands, he met Ana Lupe, who he married shortly thereafter. They made their home on la Isla Vicuna, where Ana was born and raised. Raul took up the fishing trade. Together they had one son, Peregrino, and also raised their neice, Isabel, Policarpo's daughter.