Actually, Ely was just a "stepchild".
The father of naval aviation was actually Captain Washington I Chambers. He was the person that set up everything needed to launch a plane from the Birmingham as well as land and launch from the Pennsylvania. Here is an excerpt from the Smithsonian Institude:
In the fall of 1910, the Navy identified Captain Washington I. Chambers “to observe everything that will be of use in the study of aviation and its influence upon the problems of naval warfare.” Chambers quickly realized the most important first step to prove that the airplane could operate at sea was to show that landings and take-offs from ships were possible. Chambers attended one of the first major flying meetings, being held at Belmont Park, NY, in October 1910. He met Glenn Curtiss and Eugene Ely at the competition and made a proposition. If he would supply the ship, would they make the attempt to land on board? Ely was excited at the prospect and agreed.