Toronto — Danforth, on

Danforth Avenue takes its name from Asa Danforth Jr., an American land speculator who was supposed to help find settlers to move to Upper Canada in the late 1700s. After many controversies, Danforth entered into an agreement with colonial administrator Peter Russell to build a road (including bridges as necessary) from York (now known as Toronto) to the Bay of Quinte. Danforth eventually finished the road in 1799 but ran into problems with inspections — and a stint in debtor’s prison — along the way. The road was later fixed and renamed Kingston Road, but the avenue that connected to that main thoroughfare retains his name to this day.