Alexis-Charles-Henri Clérel de Tocqueville (1805-1859) was a French political thinker and historian. From an old noble family, de Tocqueville grew to despise the July Monarchy and supported its overthrow in 1848. He also opposed the rise of Napoleon III. De Tocqueville is remembered by Americans for his tour of the 19th century United States and his observations of American culture and political institutions.