Dan Clayton Jones was born in Porth in the Rhondda, Wales.  He was educated at Cowbridge Grammar School, Llandovery College, Carmarthenshire, and King's College, London University where he read law, and was a recipient of an E.S.U. Scholarship to study in the U.S.A.  He began his career in marketing with Ford of Europe as PA to the Vice-President of Marketing, based in Brussels. Over the following twelve years he held senior marketing appointments with the Wales Tourist Board (Marketing Manager) and the Rank Organisation (Marketing Director Leisure Division).

In the mid 1980's, in partnership with his brother, he founded Crown & Co in South Wales, selling his interest to Royal Insurance Plc in 1990.  He is a Director of Cord Investments Ltd and J.J. & F Property Holdings Ltd, both leisure and commercial property companies.

A life-long supporter of the heritage in Wales, he was Secretary of the Historic Houses Association in Wales for 12 years and is a founding Life Member of the Historic Gardens Trust. Dan has been the Vice-Chairman of the National Trust in Wales and was the first Chairman of the National Botanic Garden of Wales, a £44 million Millennium project. In the last three years he has chaired Hendreff Building Preservation Trust, Cowbridge Physic Garden Trust and is the Chancellor and Knight of the Order of St John in Wales. A former High Sheriff of his County, since 1999 he has held the appointment of Hon. Consul for Canada in Wales and was made a Deputy Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan in 2001. He is Chairman of "Prime Cymru", one of the Prince of Wales Group of Charities.