He was born in Tardets (Atharratze in basque), Soule, French Basqueland on 10 October 1811 and died in Bayonne (Baiona in Basque), Labourd 23 October 1858.

He is considered a precursor of left-wing Basque patriotism.

[3] He wrote Travel to Navarre during the insurrection of the Basques (1830-1835) (1836, in French, on his experiences in the First Carlist War, which he interprets as an ethnic war of Basques against Spain that would bring about an independent Basque republic.

[4]), The Legend of Aitor (in which he invented a national creation myth, that had great acceptance for some time)[5] and Azti-Begia (The Soothsayer's Eye in Souletin Basque).

He was a supporter of republicanism and became a councilor in Bayonne and the Basses-Pyrénées department.