Robert C. Baker, a professor of food science at Cornell University, devised the concept of the chicken nugget in the 1950s. He referred to this new food item as the “Chicken Crispie,” which was a small chunk of chicken enveloped in batter and subsequently deep-fried. Rather than seeking a patent for his creation, Baker took a more academic approach, opting to share his groundbreaking recipe with hundreds of corporations without any patent protection.