Azariah C. Flagg
Encyclopedia
Azariah Cutting Flagg was an American newspaper editor and politician.
. From 1813 to 1826, he was the publisher of the Plattsburgh Republican at Plattsburgh, New York.
He was a member from Clinton County
of the New York State Assembly
in 1823 and 1824.
He was elected Secretary of State of New York
in 1826, and re-elected in 1829 and 1832. He was elected New York State Comptroller
in 1833, and re-elected in 1836, 1842 and 1845. He was one of the leading members of the Albany Regency
. His final political office was New York City Comptroller
, a post he held from 1853 to 1859.
Flagg began as a member of the Bucktails
faction of the Democratic-Republican Party, then became a Jacksonian, a Democrat and Barnburner
, then joined the Free Soilers
in the late 1840s, and finally the nascent Republican Party
in the mid-1850s.
He was buried at the Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn.
Life
He was the son of Ebenezer Flagg (1756–1828) and Elizabeth Cutting Flagg (d. 1838). He fought in the War of 1812War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. From 1813 to 1826, he was the publisher of the Plattsburgh Republican at Plattsburgh, New York.
He was a member from Clinton County
Clinton County, New York
Clinton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 82,128. Its name is in honor of the first Governor of New York as a state, George Clinton. Its county seat is Plattsburgh.-History:...
of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1823 and 1824.
He was elected Secretary of State of New York
Secretary of State of New York
The Secretary of State of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York.The current Secretary of State of New York is Cesar A...
in 1826, and re-elected in 1829 and 1832. He was elected New York State Comptroller
New York State Comptroller
The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:...
in 1833, and re-elected in 1836, 1842 and 1845. He was one of the leading members of the Albany Regency
Albany Regency
The Albany Regency was a group of politicians who controlled the New York state government between 1822 and 1838. The group was among the first American political machines...
. His final political office was New York City Comptroller
New York City Comptroller
The Office of Comptroller of New York City is the chief fiscal officer and chief auditing officer of the city. The comptroller is elected, citywide, to a four-year term and can hold office for three consecutive terms. The current comptroller is Democrat John Liu, formerly a member of the New York...
, a post he held from 1853 to 1859.
Flagg began as a member of the Bucktails
Bucktails
The Bucktails may refer to one of two organizations that were particularly characterized and identified by the wearing of a bucktail in their headgear....
faction of the Democratic-Republican Party, then became a Jacksonian, a Democrat and Barnburner
Barnburners and Hunkers
The Barnburners were the more radical faction of the New York state Democratic Party in the mid 19th century. The term barnburner was derived from the idea of someone who would burn down his own barn to get rid of a rat infestation, in this case those who would destroy all banks and corporations,...
, then joined the Free Soilers
Free Soil Party
The Free Soil Party was a short-lived political party in the United States active in the 1848 and 1852 presidential elections, and in some state elections. It was a third party and a single-issue party that largely appealed to and drew its greatest strength from New York State. The party leadership...
in the late 1840s, and finally the nascent Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in the mid-1850s.
He was buried at the Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn.
Sources
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E06E6D81339EF34BC4E51DFB7678388669FDE Obit in NYT on November 26, 1873 (giving wrong birthplace)
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9B07E2D71F38E333A2575AC2A9679D946290D7CF His funeral, in NYT on November 29, 1873
- Google Book The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 33, 34 and 273; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
- http://www.genealogyofnewengland.com/f_7a5.htm Flagg genealogy
- http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyclinto/gazetteer/notes.html Clinton County newspapers, at rootsweb