Jose Aranguren was born in Spain in 1875. He became a brigadier general in the Civil Guard. On 27th March, 1936, the Popular Front government appointed him commander of the 5th Zone of the Civil Guard in Barcelona.

On the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War Aranguren remained loyal to the government and helped to put down the Nationalist rising in Barcelona.

Aranguren played an important role in the suppression of the May Riots in 1937. He moved to Valencia in May 1937 and became military commander of the city on 13th November, 1937.

Aranguren was captured when the Nationalist Army took Valencia on 30th March, 1939. He was court-martialed and executed later that year.