José Millán Astray was born on July 5, 1879 in A Coruña, A Coruña, Galicia, Spain. He was married to Rita Gasset. He died on January 2, 1954 in Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
His second wife, Rita Gasset, was the daughter of Nationalist General Rafael Gasset, who was first cousin of author José Ortega y Gasset. The couple gave birth to their only daughter, Peregrina, while living in Portugal.
Was a general for the Nationalist Army that fought in the Spanish Civil War.
Credited with creating the famous phrase "Viva la muerte, muera la inteligencia" ("Long live death, death to Intelligence").