Ángel Guirola was born in Zacatecoluca, Federal Republic of Central America, on 5 August 1826.

His parents were Rafael María Guírola and Gertrudis de la Cotera y González.

He had seven children: Adalberto (who died during the Third Totoposte War, Rafael, Ángel, Eduardo, Julia, Lulú, and Matilde.

He was elected as a deputy to the Legislative Assembly in 1866 from the department of San Salvador.

Guirola resigned from the legislature in 1885 and left the country for the United States and Europe.