Sarek of Vulcan spent most of his life in service of the Vulcan people as an ambassador and representative on the Federation Council. He was also well-known as the father of noted Starfleet officer (and latterly fellow diplomat) Spock.

Sarek's accomplishments as an ambassador to the Federation included the Coridan admission debate of 2268 before the Federation Council, early treaties with the Klingon Empire (Treaty of Alliance), Alpha Cygnus IX, and his incredible effort to bring about a Federation-Legaran treaty, which was initiated in 2273.

A scene cut from the script of "Journey to Babel" established that Sarek was previously an astrophysicist before becoming a diplomat.

Sarek's first child, Sybok, was born to a Vulcan princess to whom he was apparently bonded. Sybok lived with his mother until she died, at which point Sybok moved in with his father.

Sometime later whilst serving as Ambassador to Earth, Sarek wed his first wife, a Human female named Amanda Grayson, who gave birth to his second son, Spock, three years later. In later years, in describing his parents' relationship, Spock stated that his mother "considered herself a very fortunate Earth woman."

it is thought that Sarek and Grayson were married in 2230.

Around 2250 Sarek broke off his relationship with Spock, when the latter decided to apply to Starfleet Academy instead of the Vulcan Science Academy.

In the interim, Spock had likened Balok as being reminiscent to his father, even stating at one point early in the first contact between the First Federation and the Enterprise, that he regretted not having learned more about Balok.

The two didn't speak again until the Coridan debate of 2268 (en route to the Babel Conference), when Sarek survived a series of heart attacks and surgery, only after a transfusion of rare T-negative blood from his son during an operation which was performed by Dr. McCoy. of the USS Enterprise.

Sarek and Spock remained on good terms as the Klingon détente bloomed in the 2280s. In 2285, however, Spock was left for dead on the Genesis Planet after sacrificing his life to save the USS Enterprise. Sarek traveled to Earth and convinced Admiral James T. Kirk to retrieve his son's body, and pushed for a fal-tor-pan fusion of Spock's katra and body. see Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. A year after this, Sarek finally apologized to Spock for his original opposition to Spock's decision to join Starfleet, recognizing Spock's friends as people of good character. see Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

In 2293, Sarek suggested that Spock initiate negotiations for a proposed Federation-Klingon Alliance with Chancellor Gorkon, hoping to bring together the two life-long enemies after the destruction of the Klingon moon Praxis. That almost didn't happen, for Gorkon was assassinated. Captain Kirk and Dr. Leonard McCoy were arrested by the Klingons, having been framed for the chancellor's murder. Sarek was present at the Federation's attempts to stop their trial in Klingon territory, but had to concede that the Klingons are within their legal rights and the Federation cannot interfere in their due process. Kirk and McCoy, with Spock's assistance, eventually escaped from imprisonment on Rura Penthe, and they arrived at the Khitomer Conference in time to prevent the assassination of the Federation President. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country) Afterwords, Sarek was involved with the Khitomer Accords, and further helped the Federation and the Klingon Empire establish their almost 100-year peaceful co-existence.

Sometime after the Khitomer Conference, Spock left Starfleet and became an ambassador and representative of the Vulcans to the Federation. It is suspected he and Sarek were involved in few diplomatic missions. The two, however, split again over the Cardassian issue of the 24th century. By that time, Amanda had died, and Sarek had married another Human woman named Perrin. Sarek was present at his son's wedding before they stopped speaking to each other; it was at that event Sarek first met Jean-Luc Picard.

In 2366, Sarek was diagnosed with Bendii Syndrome. At the time, he was negotiating a treaty with the Legarans. As his emotional control was incredibly weak, he mind-melded with Captain Picard at the suggestion of his wife Perrin. Sarek was then stable enough to conclude the negotiations, which had taken 93 years.

In 2368, Sarek died at the age of 203 in his home on Vulcan. When meeting with Ambassador Spock on Romulus, Picard learned that Spock and his father had never mind-melded, and offered Spock the chance to share what Sarek had shared with him. The meld passed along Sarek's true feeling of love and admiration for his son that he never allowed himself to convey in life.