In late 1807 his father was appointed Captain-General of Catalonia and Ezpeleta was with him when the French troops, commanded by General Duhesme, attacked the city of Barcelona in 1808.

Ezpeleta helped General Espartero in the liberation of Bilbao and he secured some villages in Burgos and Biscay trying to stop the advance of the Carlist troops.

This strategy did not success, but he achieves his objective in 1836 while helping General Santiago Méndez Vigo.

During his time as Captain-General he organized a fire brigade and he promoted the establishment of savings banks and the laying of railway lines, being rewarded for such advances with the Laureate Grand Cross of Saint Ferdinand, by royal decree of September 24, 1838.

His sister, María Concepción, married General Pedro Agustín Girón, meaning that Ezpeleta is the uncle of the 2nd Duke of Ahumada, founder of the Civil Guard.