Dear Mr Noodles,
Since you asked - here's a couple of examples of a reference to airfoil drag/power relationships in the work of Sir George Cayley, a British scientist, in the early 1800s.
Sir George Cayley – Making Aviation Practical
Sir George Cayley Research | Find Sir George Cayley Articles | Encyclopedia.com: FREE Online Dictionary, Encyclopedia, Articles And Pictures!
In a nutshell: George Cayley knew he didnt have a suitably light engine to provide the power required.
100 years later The Wright Brothers did have access to such an engine [not to mention the research of George Cayley].
I think its better to say that the work of many, over a large timespan, contributed to the development of the aeroplane.
OOW