OK. So, let’s assume he DID “fly” before the Wright brothers, but some how, despite hundreds of thousands of photographs and camera being available in the CT and US in general sicne teh mid-1860’s, some how nobody took a picture that day, nor write a newspaper story, nor get on the train and get witmesesse that day, nor send any telegraph message back to their sponsors or mother or sister or brother or partner or wife or friends.
What did he do the next day? Sit on his bottom and do nothing either?
Did NOTHING for the next 20 years and NEVER attempt to fly again? NEVER get in front of anybody else and claim multi-thousand dollar competitions and prizes for the first circular flight or longest distance flight or carry passengers or get airmail contracts or get military contracts?
Sure, other people tried to make light bulbs.
But Edison’s light bulb WORKED for many hours. It WAS the first successful light bulb!