Hovsep Arghutian was born in Sanahin, Tiflis Governorate, Russian Empire to an aristocratic family.

[1] Arghutian graduated from the Nersisian Seminary in Tiflis and was a school teacher in the village of Jalaloghly (now Stepanavan, Armenia).

In 1889, he made his way into the empire's eastern Anatolian provinces, where he worked with underground revolutionary groups, including the leader Arabo.

[2] Afterward, he was arrested as a Russian citizen by Persian authorities and sent to Vologda, but was soon released.

Arghutian led the 7th Armenian Volunteer Battalion during World War I.