Final answer:
Darwin was influenced by Lamarck, Lyell, Malthus, and his observations of artificial selection in developing his theory of natural selection. Alfred Russel Wallace's parallel findings confirmed Darwin's theories. 'On the Origin of Species' in 1859 then provided arguments and evidence supporting evolution by natural selection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution by natural selection drawing on the work and ideas of several predecessors and his observations during his voyage. One key influence was Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, who believed that species could change over time. Fossils and geological evidence showing Earth's great age, as highlighted by Charles Lyell, reinforced the possibility that evolution could occur over long periods. Thomas Malthus's theory on population dynamics postulated that overproduction of offspring would lead to a 'struggle for existence', giving those with favorable traits a better chance at survival.
These combined insights, along with the principles of artificial selection understood from selective breeding, helped Darwin to formulate his idea that in nature, pre-existing traits underwent selection based on their utility in a given environment. Alfred Russel Wallace, who independently came up with a similar concept, confirmed Darwin's ideas and prompted the joint presentation of their papers on natural selection. Darwin's seminal work, 'On the Origin of Species' published in 1859, provided extensive arguments and evidence for his theories.