Richard McDonald was an American businessman best known as one of the co-founders of the fast-food chain McDonald's. Born on February 16, 1909, in Manchester, New Hampshire, he and his brother, Maurice McDonald, opened the first McDonald's restaurant in 1940 in San Bernardino, California. They introduced a revolutionary system of food preparation that emphasized speed and efficiency. The McDonald brothers' innovative approach to fast food laid the groundwork for the franchise model that would later be expanded by Ray Kroc, who joined the company in 1954. Richard McDonald played a crucial role in shaping the fast-food industry, making it a staple in American culture.