Final answer:
Herbert Spencer, an English philosopher, contributed significantly to sociology by applying 'survival of the fittest' to societal evolution and promoting laissez-faire capitalism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Herbert Spencer was from England. He was an English philosopher known for his contributions to the field of sociology. Spencer famously applied the concept of 'survival of the fittest' to societies, influencing sociological thought. Although Spencer rejected the ideas of other sociologists like Comte and Marx, he made significant impacts on early thinkers in the field, such as Émile Durkheim. Rejecting both the positivist sociology of Comte and Marxist theory of class struggle, Spencer favored a more laissez-faire approach, allowing market forces to regulate capitalism. His interpretation of Darwin's work in terms of social evolution, while sometimes misused, was pivotal in sociology and social Darwinism.