Rev. Gilbert White (1720-1792) had a pet tortoise called Timothy. 1 July 1791, White decided to dunk the tortoise in water.

We put Timothy into a tub of water, & found that he sunk gradually, & walked on the bottom of the tub: he seemed quite out of his element, & was much dismayed. This species seems not at all amphibious. Timothy seems to be the Testudo Graeca of Linnaeus. Dr Chandler who saw the operation, says there is a species of tortoise in the Levant that at times frequents ponds & lakes: and my Bro: John White, affirms the same of a sort in Andalusia.

Now, while the tortoise was fine after the incident, the tortoise could not let this offence lie, and retaliated. By outliving Gilbert White! As is common with turtle kind!

As is very common, the works of Gilbert White were 2D scanned for posterity. Of course, EVEN in death, Timothy had to one-up this! Timothy’s shell was 3D scanned!