- Eight children by his wife Clara Wieck Schumann: Marie Schumann, born September 1 1841; Elise Schumann, born April 25 1843; Julie Schumann, born March 11 1845; Emil Schumann, born February 8 1846; Ludwig Schumann, born January 20 1848; Ferdinand Schumann, born July 16 1849; Eugenie Schumann, born December 1 1851; and Felix Schumann, born June 11 1854. Like his father, Ludwig Schumann suffered from mental illness and spent 31 years in a mental hospital.
- During Schumann's two and a half years in an asylum near Bonn, his wife Clara was forbidden to visit him until a few days before his death. He recognized her but could no longer speak intelligibly. She stayed with him to the end.
- In 1850 Schumann posed for two daguerreotypes, one with his wife Clara. He was the second great composer to be photographed, after Frédéric Chopin in 1847 and 1849.
- Originally wanted to become a virtuoso pianist. This dream ended in 1831 when he permanently injured his right hand, possibly while using a sketchy device to "strengthen" his fingers.
- In his lifetime Schumann's fame was overshadowed by that of his wife, the concert pianist Clara Schumann. When they attended parties together he hated being asked, "Are you a musician too?".
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