Wernicke's area, also known as Brodmann area 22, is located in the posterior segment of the superior temporal gyrus in the dominant hemisphere. Carl Wernicke, a German neurologist, described this area in 1874. The life story of Carl Wernicke, a 19th century medical genius, remains an inspiration for all neuroscientists even a hundred years later. The authors outline Wernicke's life story and academic achievements in the fields of neurosurgery, neurology, and psychiatry. We explore his remarkable ability to turn his many setbacks into steps forward, his controversial foray into psychiatry, and his wide-ranging set of contributions including: his work on external ventricular drainage for hydrocephalus; encephalopathy; his description of the eponymous Wernicke's area; and his field-defining work on aphasia. This historical review attempts to bring to life a seminal figure in the neurosciences, providing an insight into his visionary thought process.