Born in Texas in 1885, Chester W. Nimitz served in World War I as chief of staff to the commander of the U.S. Atlantic submarine force. One of the navy’s foremost administrators and strategists, he commanded all land and sea forces in the central Pacific area. 1 Early life 2 Career 2.1 Commands 3 Later life 3.1 Death 4 Awards … Charles Henry Nimitz (born Karl Heinrich Nimitz; November 9, 1826 – April 28, 1911) was born in Bremen, Germany, the son of a merchant seaman. In December 1944 Nimitz had been promoted to the Navy’s newest and highest rank—that of fleet admiral. Unfortunately his shorter biography adds little of substance to Potter's. In 1944, he was promoted to fleet admiral. I could not put the book down and that is down to how the book is written. By June 1942 he had proudly announced the decisive victory at the Battle of Midway and the Coral Sea, where enemy losses were 10 times greater than those of the United States at Pearl Harbor. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (December 1941), Nimitz was elevated to commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet, a command that brought both land and sea forces under his authority. Updated Fri Jan 10 15:18:46 EST 2020. He held a variety of posts at sea and on shore until 1939, when he was appointed chief of the Bureau of Navigation of the U.S. Navy. He died in 1966 on Yerba Buena Island, California. Synopsis Born in Texas in 1885, Chester W. Nimitz served in World War I as chief of staff to the commander of the U.S. Atlantic submarine force. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. His frail, rheumatic father died before Nimitz was born. He died on February 20, 1966 in Yerba Buena Island in San Francisco Bay, California, USA. He was the son of U.S. Navy Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Nimitz Hotel Charles Henry Nimitz, German merchant sailor and grandfather of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, was born in Bremen in Germany. He was considered an expert on the common law. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz with Cdr Herbert E. Schonland and LCdr Bruce McCandless aboard USS San Francisco (CA-38), in December 1942 (80-G-40031).jpg 740 × 557; 100 KB Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The best way to get along with ei… In 1939, he was appointed chief of the Bureau of Navigation of the U.S. Navy. – Yerba Buena Island, Kalifornia, 1966. február 20.) He was significantly influenced by his German-born paternal grandfather, Charles Henry Nimitz, a former seaman in the German Merchant Marine, who taught him, "the sea - like life itself - is a stern taskmaster. az Egyesült Államok tengernagya volt, aki a második világháború idején a Csendes-óceánon két fontos parancsnoki tisztséget látott el. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Nimitz served in World War I as chief of staff to the commander of the U.S. Atlantic submarine force, a tour of duty that convinced him of the effectiveness of submarine warfare. Chester A. Arthur was the 21st president of the United States. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz with Cdr Herbert E. Schonland and LCdr Bruce McCandless aboard USS San Francisco (CA-38), in December 1942. Omissions? © 2021 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. He was skilled at tank warfare. From his childhood in Fredericksburg, Virginia to the moment when he signed the Japanese Surrender he had helped bring about, BIOGRAPHY chronicles the life of this fabled admiral. Auden was a British poet, author and playwright best known as a leading literary figure in the 20th century for his poetry. His father was very sickly and died several months before Nimitz was born. Chester W. Nimitz was born on February 24, 1885, in Fredericksburg, Texas, USA, to Chester Bernhard Nimitz and Anna Josephine. Potter shows his admiration for Nimitz by showing many small incidents of the man's humanity, tactical intelligence, and quiet perseverance that let the reader conclude on his own that Nimitz was a great man. Chester William Nimitz (Fredericksburg, Texas, 1885. február 24. https://www.biography.com/political-figure/chester-w-nimitz. Corrections? In both cases the Americans employed the tactic of island-hopping and relied on superior firepower to inflict appalling casualties on fanatical Japanese defenders who preferred…, …was then signed by MacArthur, Nimitz, and representatives of the other Allied powers. He also went to sea before the Nimitz family immigrated to South Carolina in the early 1840s, and later became part of the Adelsverein colonization experiment in the newly annexed state of Texas. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). He was married to Catherine Vance Freeman. He died on February 20, 1966 in Yerba Buena Island in San Francisco Bay, California, USA. Douglas MacArthur was an American general best known for his command of Allied forces in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! In 1947, in answer to interrogatories by the German Adm. Karl Dönitz, on trial for war crimes, Nimitz gave his justification for the unrestricted nature of U.S. submarine warfare in the Pacific during World War II. Biography. Nimitz, a German Texan, was born the son of Anna Josephine (Henke) and Chester Bernhard Nimitz on 24 February 1885 in Fredericksburg, Texas, where his grandfather's hotel is now the Admiral Nimitz State Historic Site. Nimitz was responsible for the victories at Midway and Okinawa among others. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Updates? Chester W. Nimitz Biography page for Notable Graduates at USNA.edu. Nimitz, a German Texan, was born the son of Anna Josephine (Henke) and Chester Bernhard Nimitz on 24 February 1885 in Fredericksburg, Texas, where his grandfather's hotel is now the Admiral Nimitz State Historic Site. Potter he edited Sea Power, a Naval History (1960). After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Nimitz assembled the forces, selected the leaders, and - as commander of all U.S. and Allied air, land, and sea forces in the Pacific Ocean - led the charge one island at a time, one battle at a time, toward victory. We strive for accuracy and fairness. 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