Sir Glyn Smallwood Jones GCMG MBE (9 January 1908 – 10 June 1992)[1] was a British colonial administrator in Southern Africa.

Glyn Smallwood Jones was born in Chester, England, on 9 January 1908 and baptised in the Calvinist Methodist Church.

During this time, he hosted a very successful tour by the Governor of Northern Rhodesia, Sir Arthur Benson, who had been his contemporary at Oxford.

Shortly thereafter, in January 1958, Benson appointed him Secretary for Native Affairs in Lusaka and he became a close confidant and lieutenant of the governor.

The nomination was motivated by the Devlin Commission having criticised the incumbent administrative officials in Nyasaland as "unimpressive" and by Jones's reputation as a trouble-shooter based on his career in Northern Rhodesia, particularly for his role in dealing with the Copperbelt disturbances.

In March 1960, prior to his official appointment, which was due to begin at the end of June, he visited Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda in gaol in Gwelo (now Gweru), Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).

Banda was a leading figure among Africans on Nyasaland opposed to Federation with the Rhodesias and agitating for independence from Britain.

Armitage was advised to go on leave pending retirement in August 1960 and Jones was appointed Acting Governor in his absence.

After a timetable for full self-government and independence was agreed at the Lancaster House constitutional conference in London in 1962, Jones allowed Banda and the Malawi Congress ministers to initiate policies.

Less than two months later, the Cabinet Crisis of 1964 erupted after most of Banda's ministers agitated for more power in his markedly autocratic government and various policy changes.

In June 1966, Jones officially assented to Malawi becoming an independent republic, leading to the termination of his own position as Governor General when the country adopted its new status in July 1966.