Final answer:
Émile Durkheim established Europe's first university department of sociology at the University of Bordeaux in 1895.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sociologist who established Europe's first university department of sociology was Émile Durkheim. He founded the department at the University of Bordeaux in 1895, making a significant contribution to establishing sociology as an academic discipline. Durkheim is well-known for his works, including 'The Rules of the Sociological Method' and 'The Division of Labour in Society,' in which he laid out his theories on how societies evolved and the role of merit in social stratification.