Complex sentence: Born at Ukiah, California, Standley graduated from the Naval Academy in 1895 and served two years' sea duty and was then required by law in the cruiser "Olympia" before he received his commission as an ensign in 1897.
Split into simpler sentences: Born at Ukiah, California, Standley graduated from the Naval Academy in 1895. He then served the required two years' sea duty in the cruiser "Olympia" before he received his commission as an ensign in 1897.