清末筹议近代海防、组建阿思本舰队之时，赫德即在其中起了推动作用。他一度控制着中国海军的购船大权并图谋指挥中国舰队的实际权力，在失败之后转而又企图通过扶植琅威理掌握中国海军大权。客观上他对中国海军的创建和发展起了一定的推动作用，但他的目的所在，并不是为了中国的利益，而是想把中国海军“掌握在英国人手里” In the late Qing Dynasty, during the preparations for modern coastal defense and formation of the Aspen fleet, Hurd played a catalytic role in this. He once controlled the Chinese navy’s purchasing power and attempted to direct the actual power of the Chinese fleet. After the defeat, however, he tried instead to control the power of the Chinese navy by supporting Lang Wei. Objectively, he played a certain role in promoting the establishment and development of the Chinese navy. However, he did not aim for China’s interests but wanted to “hold the Chinese navy” in the hands of the British.