Jose Antonio Aguirre

About

Basque politician who became the first president of of the Basque Autonomous Community, from 1936 to 1960. He supported the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War and organized the Basque Army to fight in the war.

Before Fame

He studied law at the University of Deusto.

Trivia

He lived in Nazi Germany for a year with a false passport.

Family Life

He grew up in Bilbao, Spain and studied at a school that taught solely in the Basque language.

Associated With

He was exiled from Spain after Francisco Franco took power.