Burger King (often abbreviated as BK) is an American global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, headquartered in the unincorporated area of Miami-Dade County, Florida. The company was founded in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain. After Insta-Burger King ran into financial difficulties in 1954, its two Miami-based franchisees David Edgerton and James McLamore purchased the company and renamed it as Burger King.