The McDonald brothers, Richard McDonald and Maurice McDonald, were American entrepreneurs who founded the original McDonald's restaurant in 1940 in San Bernardino, California. They developed a fast-food service system that emphasized speed, efficiency, and low prices, which became the foundation for modern fast-food operations. In 1954, Ray Kroc, a milkshake machine salesman, discovered their restaurant and saw potential for expansion. He partnered with the brothers and opened the first franchised McDonald's in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1955. This partnership led to the global growth of the McDonald's brand, making it one of the largest fast-food chains in the world.