许钤身是一名近代外交官，曾被清廷任命为首任驻英国副使和首任驻日使节，虽因故未能赴任，但在协助李鸿章处理一系列对外交涉事务，以及训练北洋舰队等方面，做出不小成绩，对近代洋务作出了重要贡献 Xu was a modern diplomat and was appointed by the Qing government as the first deputy envoy to Britain and the first ambassador to Japan. Although he was unable to serve for some reason, Xu was a member of assisting Li in handling a series of foreign affairs and training of the Northern Fleet , Made no small achievement, made an important contribution to the modern Westernization