The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Flagg, Azariah Cutting
1790–1873, American political leader, b. Orwell, Vt. He fought in the War of 1812, was editor of the Plattsburgh (N.Y.) Republican until 1825, and was elected (1823) to the New York state assembly. Flagg, a relentless Jeffersonian Democrat, was a leader of the Albany Regency and helped sustain its drive for political reforms. He served in New York as secretary of state (1826–32) and twice as state comptroller (1834–39, 1842–46). He opposed any form of federal banks and advocated reform of the New York state banking system. After 1846 he helped organize the Barnburners and was (1852–59) comptroller of New York City.
