Editing Chester W. Nimitz (section)

==Early life and education==
[[File:Chester W Nimitz by Buffham, c1905.png|thumb|248x248px|Midshipman 1/C Nimitz, ''circa'' 1905|left]]
Nimitz, a [[German Texan]], was born the son of Anna Josephine (née Henke) and Chester Bernhard Nimitz on 24 February 1885, in [[Fredericksburg, Texas]],<ref>Potter, p. 26.</ref> where his grandfather's hotel is now the [[National Museum of the Pacific War]]. His frail, [[rheumatic]] father had died six months earlier, on 14 August 1884.<ref>[http://records.ancestry.com/Chester_Bernard_Nimitz_records.ashx?pid=17643547 Ancestry.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901003710/https://records.ancestry.com/Chester_Bernard_Nimitz_records.ashx?pid=17643547 |date=September 1, 2018 }}. Retrieved March 17, 2014</ref> In 1890, Anna married William Nimitz (1864–1943), Chester B. Nimitz's brother.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digitalarchive.pacificwarmuseum.org/digital/collection/p16769coll6|title=Nimitz Family Photographs|website=Pacific War Museum|access-date=June 11, 2021|archive-date=August 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803111015/https://digitalarchive.pacificwarmuseum.org/digital/collection/p16769coll6|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was significantly influenced by his German-born paternal grandfather, [[Charles Henry Nimitz]], a former seaman in the [[merchant navy|German Merchant Marine]], who taught him, "the sea – like life itself – is a stern taskmaster. The best way to get along with either is to learn all you can, then do your best and don't worry – especially about things over which you have no control".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gerald R. Ford: Remarks at the U.S.S. Nimitz Commissioning Ceremony in Norfolk, Virginia |url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=4890 |author1=John Woolley | author2=Gerhard Peters |publisher=The American Presidency Project |access-date=May 10, 2007}}</ref>  His grandfather had become a [[Texas Ranger Division|Texas Ranger]] in the Texas Mounted Volunteers in 1851 and later served as captain of the Gillespie Rifles Company in the [[Confederate States Army]] during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]].<ref>National Park Service Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database. Ancestry.com Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records</ref>
[[File:Chester Nimitz as ensign.jpg|left|thumb|159x159px|[[Ensign (United States)|Ensign]] Chester Nimitz]]
Originally, Nimitz applied to [[West Point]] in hopes of becoming an [[United States Army|Army]] officer, but no appointments were available. [[James L. Slayden]], US Representative for [[Texas's 12th congressional district]], told him that he had one appointment available for the [[United States Naval Academy]] and that he would award it to the best-qualified candidate. Nimitz felt that this was his only opportunity for further education and spent extra time studying to earn the appointment. He was appointed to the Naval Academy by Slayden in 1901, and graduated with distinction on 30 January 1905, seventh in a class of 114.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Biographical Sketch |url=http://www.nimitz-museum.org/nimitzbio.htm |publisher=The National Museum of the Pacific War |access-date=May 10, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070424172641/http://www.nimitz-museum.org/nimitzbio.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=April 24, 2007}}</ref>