Timothy made his first appearance in the nation's history when he was a ship's mascot in the Crimean War in 1854. After a long naval career, he retired for a quieter life on land and was given to the Earl of Devon in 1892. From then until his untimely death in April 2004, he lived in Powderham castle. Timothy's story is not just the tale of a remarkable tortoise, it is a social history of the last century and a half. He was a symbol of continuity, and this is a warm and nostalgic account of the life he lived.