Richard and Maurice McDonald | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Years active | 1940–1998 |
| Known for | Founding McDonald's |
| Richard McDonald | |
| Born | February 16, 1909[1] Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Died | July 14, 1998 (aged 89) Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Maurice McDonald | |
| Born | November 26, 1902[2]
Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Died | December 11, 1971 (aged 69) Palm Springs, California, U.S. |
Richard McDonald (February 16, 1909 – July 14, 1998) and Maurice McDonald (November 26, 1902 – December 11, 1971), collectively known as the McDonald Brothers, were American entrepreneurs who founded the fast food company McDonald's.
The brothers opened the original McDonald's restaurant in 1940 in San Bernardino, California, where they created the Speedee Service System to produce their meals, a method that became the standard for the fast food industry. After hiring Ray Kroc as their franchise agent in 1954, they continued to run the company until they were bought out by Kroc in 1961.