[1] Youdan was born in Streetthorpe near Doncaster, the son of a farm labourer.

[2][3] At the age of 18 he moved to Sheffield, where he was employed as a labourer and a silver stamper.

He then ran a public house, and later built the Surrey Theatre on the site of a former pawn shop.

[2] He then converted a storage building into the Alexandra Opera House, before retiring in 1874, and returning to the countryside.

In addition to endowing the Youdan Cup, he made generous donations to charities of all kinds.