With the exceptions of Newton, Gauss, and Sofia Kovalevskaya, probably no mathematician's biography is better known than the charmed career of David Hilbert. Considering his striking personality and pervasive influence on twentieth century mathematics, this is hardly surprising. Yet most of what has been written about him, aside from analyses of his work, concerns his later life in Göttingen. Thus, the essays in this part of A Richer Picture, much like those in Part II on the young Felix Klein, aim to throw fresh light on the earlier years well before he attained fame and glory. Like any ordinary mortal, Hilbert had first to win recognition from senior mathematicians in Germany, most importantly from Klein, who happened to be intent on cultivating his ties with Königsberg through his former student, Ferdinand Lindemann. The latter replaced Hilbert's first mentor, Heinrich Weber, in 1883, a turn of events with significant long-term consequences.