Born in the province of Gipuzkoa, he moved to Yepes and later Madrid after his marriage with Hipólita Casado Busto.
Here he became the protégé of prime minister José de Grimaldo and was introduced to the Royal Court.
But when King Louis died from smallpox just seven months later, Philip V was forced to return to the Spanish throne.
At their return, Ripperdá was made a Duke and also replaced Grimaldo, who favoured a treaty with Great Britain.
In October 1726 Orendáin became prime minister for the second time and he supported the aggressive foreign policy of Elisabeth Farnese, the Queen Consort, to regain former Spanish possessions in Italy.