Wesley Robert Crusher was the gifted son of Starfleet officers Lieutenant Commander Jack and Dr. Beverly Crusher, born in 2348. His promising Starfleet career was cut short, leading him to a unique life accompanying the transdimensional Tau Alphan dubbed The Traveller, last seen in 2370. He had returned to Starfleet by 2379. When Wesley was only five, his father was killed while serving on the USS Stargazer under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard

(TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")

When the crew of the Enterprise became infected with the polywater intoxication virus that caused loss of emotional control, Wesley also became infected.

(TNG: "The Naked Now")

During a visit to the planet Rubicun III, Wesley violated one of their laws by disturbing new plants and was to be sentenced to death. Captain Picard discovered that the people known as the Edo were controlled and provided for by a mysterious object in space.

(TNG: "Justice")

In the attempt by Lore to hijack the Enterprise, it was Wesley who discovered that Lore was impersonating Data. Later that year, Wesley took the Starfleet Academy entrance exam. Although he did not pass this time, his spirits were lifted by Picard who told him he too failed the first time.

(TNG: "Datalore", "Coming of Age")

When the Aldeans kidnapped the children on the Enterprise because they were unable to procreate, Wesley led the children in acts of noncooperation.

(TNG: "When The Bough Breaks")

In 2364, Wesley befriended The Traveller when he accompanied Kosinski aboard the Enterprise-D to assist with warp drive efficiency upgrade experiments. When the ship was transported millions of light years to the M-33 Galaxy, Wesley assisted The Traveller in returning the ship to known space. Captain Picard was so impressed with Wesley's contributions that he granted Wesley a field commission to acting ensign.

(TNG: "Where No One Has Gone Before")

In 2365, William Riker assigned Wesley command of a science team with the mission of investigating Selcundi Drema.

(TNG: "Pen Pals")

One of Wesley's experiments went wrong and almost destroyed the Enterprise. He had created nanites, small robots, that were replicating and becoming sentient.

(TNG: "Evolution")

Wesley successfully completed his written exams for Starfleet Academy in 2366 but did not complete his oral exams that year when he failed to board the USS Bradbury for the journey to Earth. When reviewing his service record, Captain Picard felt that Wesley's service made him an acting ensign in name only, and promoted him to full ensign, with all responsibilities and privileges.

(TNG: "Ménage à Troi", "Final Mission")

After Wesley was accepted by Starfleet Academy, Picard offered to travel with Wesley to the Academy, but first had to stop on Pentarus to mediate a dispute. The two were to travel with a representative of the planet named Dirgo. Their shuttle crashed and they were stranded on a desert planet. Wesley was able to save Picard. They were rescued by the Enterprise.

(TNG: "Final Mission")

A year later Wesley visited his mother on the Enterprise for vacation and discovered that the crew had come under the influence of a diabolical game that was really a mind control device.

(TNG: "The Game")

At the Academy Wesley became a member of the elite Nova Squadron. His graduation was troubled with a deadly accident with the Nova Squadron comrades, that precipitated an attempted cover up in which he participated, about the fact they were engaged in a dangerous and prohibited flight maneuver stunt called Kolvoord Starburst which caused the incident. He confessed after he was confronted by Captain Picard who deduced the truth and threatened to come forward with his evidence unless Wesley did. Wesley complied and as a result, he was spared expulsion, but his grades for that year were voided as punishment and he was required to repeat the course load. This penalty and the shame with it contributed to a significant loss of enthusiasm for a career in Starfleet.

(TNG: "The First Duty")

Cadet Crusher resigned from Starfleet Academy in 2370 after The Traveller (posing as a villager on Dorvan V) guided Wesley to a vision of his deceased father telling him that his destiny lay somewhere other than with Starfleet. Wesley heeded the advice after which The Traveller revealed his true identity and promised to mentor the young man on his new journey, presumably to other planes of existence.

(TNG: "Journey's End")