Who is Herbert Spencer from Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Education: A Biographical Introduction and what is their importance?

Herbert Spencer was an acknowledged advocate of individualism, science, and social Darwinism whose influence grew with the industrial modernization that affected socio-economic conditions. Spencer's social Darwinism was accepted as "gospel of economic progress and prosperity" but not in Derby, England where Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) was born on April 17, 1820, the son of William, an outspoken educator and writer in a socio-political nonconformist household. William tutored Herbert who spent little time in school because he thought they were ineffective. He taught Herbert math and science but no classics like Greek or literature. Herbert promoted classic liberal ideology of personal liberty and individualism to create a comprehensive view of knowledge to explain society's evolution and social change.