Flagg, Azariah Cutting definition of Flagg, Azariah Cutting in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

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 Albany Regency, name given, after 1820, to the leaders of the first political machine, which was developed in New York state by Martin Van Buren . The name derived from the charge that Van Buren's principal supporters, residing in Albany, managed the machine for him
..... Click the link for more information. 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 Barnburners, radical element of the Democratic party in New York state from 1842 to 1848, opposed to the conservative Hunkers . The name derives from the fabled Dutchman who burned his barn to rid it of rats; by implication, the Barnburners would destroy corporations
..... Click the link for more information. and was (1852–59) comptroller of New York City.