The Wright brothers made the first powered aircraft flight in 1903, proving that it was possible. This had the immediate effect of encouraging many others to redouble their efforts to design and build airplanes.
Roll control was an early issue; the Wright brothers used wing warping to increase/decrease lift on one side or the other to control roll.
One of the earliest and most successful competitors was Glenn Curtiss. Curtiss used ailerons -- a separate smaller wing between the upper and lower wings -- to increase or decrease lift and control roll.
A patent war between the Wrights and Curtiss ensued and lasted years.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright...ers_patent_war
Ironically, some years later the two companies merged to become Curtiss-Wright, which continues in business to this day, although they no longer design and manufacture complete aircraft.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss-Wright