Timothy (tortoise)
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Timothy (estimated 1844 – April 3/April 4, 2004) was a Mediterranean spur thighed tortoise who was thought to be approximately 160 years old at the time of his death. This made him the UK's oldest known resident.
Timothy was found aboard a Portuguese privateer in 1854 by Captain John Courtenay Everard, of the Royal Navy. The tortoise served as a mascot on a series of Navy vessels until 1892 (he was ship's mascot of HMS Queen during the first bombardment of Sebastopol in the Crimean War, then moved to Princess Charlotte followed by Nankin). After his navy service he retired to live out his life on dry land, taken in by the Earl of Devon. On his underside was inscribed the family motto, "Where have I fallen? What have I done?"
In 1926, Timothy's owners decided that he should mate. It was then discovered that Timothy was female. Despite this useful information, mating attempts were unsuccessful. Timothy's owners did not change his name, and continued to refer to him with the masculine pronoun.
He was buried near the place of his demise, Powderham Castle, the Earl of Devon's home.
Books
- Rory Knight Bruce - Timothy the Tortoise (2004)
See also
External links
- BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/3607053.stm)
- Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2004%2F04%2F07%2Fntim07.xml&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=101990)
- A Net Memorial, including a picture (http://www.netmemorials.co.uk/timothy_the_tortoise.htm)de:Timothy