Phillip Darrell Duppa deserves credit for naming Phoenix, Arizona.
Born in France in 1832, Duppa went on to Cambridge University, where he studied multiple languages. He then became an explorer and found himself in South America when his ship was wrecked.
Duppa continued to explore the land, traveling north until he discovered what is now known as Arizona. After befriending and assisting other settlers in creating the canals of the city, he settled on the land and named it Phoenix, after the idea that the city was created from nothing – like the story of the phoenix rising from the ashes.
– Amanda Fox, The 100 Companies