He was born in Torroella de Montgrí on December 1, 1812, the son of Jaume Giró and Úrsula Aranols. The couple lived in Torroella, where their father worked as a tailor, and later the whole family moved to Figueres, their mother’s hometown, where Andreu studied primary and secondary education.

He participated in huge public works in South America. During excavations for this public works, he found bones greater than normal ones.