A significant difference between (say) the Wrights and (say) Pearse is that the Wrights were experienced engineers who had spent years gradually developing the technology and the expertise to fly a powered aircraft whereas Pearse could perhaps be described as an eccentric inventor !
Another significant difference would be that Pearse was able to incorporate features now accepted as 'normal' and not seen of the Wright aircraft and not only build the aircraft but the engine too. Furthermore, he did not need a catapult or even people to hold the wings and nor did he need a sand hill to get started.
Do not denigrate Richard Pearse to make the Wright Bros look good.