A brief account of the life of Wihelm Conrad Rontgen, the discoverer of X-rays and first recipient of Noble Prize in Physics, has been given. The experiment relating to his discovery of X-rays and its preceding developments in the experimental physics leading to this discovery have been described. The applications of X-rays in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Genetics, Engineering, Metallurgy, Geology, Industry, Medicine, Environmental, and Forensic Sciences have also been cited.