Born Meyer Grabovsky in Rîbnița in the Russian Empire (today in Transnistria/Moldova), Argov studied at a heder and then at Kiev University. He became involved in Zionist activism in his youth, heading the HeHalutz movement in Ukraine, and becoming a member of the Tzeiri Zion central committee in 1917. He was arrested for Zionist activities in 1922, and again in 1924, after which he was expelled from the Soviet Union.[1]
Argov (still under the name Grabovsky) was one of the signatories of Israel's declaration of independence in 1948, and immediately joined the Provisional State Council, representing Mapai.[3] He was elected to the first Knesset in 1949, and retained his seat in elections in 1951, 1955, 1959 and 1961, serving as chair of the important Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee from 1951 onwards. He died in office in 1963 and was buried in Segula Cemetery.[4] His seat was taken by Jenia Tversky.[5]