Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) was born in Derby, England, and died in London, England. He was a philosopher, author, and arguably one of the most influential European intellectuals of the nineteenth century. Through his lectures and works, Spencer contributed to many subjects, but he is mostly recognized for his work on pre-Darwinian evolutionary theory. He later believed that Darwin's theory of evolution was superior and he applied it to economic and social competition. He became one of the founders of Social Darwinism, coining the phrase "survival of the fittest." His major works were: First Principles (1862), The Man Versus The State (1884), and The Synthetic Philosophy (1896). There is no record of Spencer studying with Mary Baker Eddy or uniting with the Church of Christ (Scientist).

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