# Azariah C. Flagg

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American politician

Azariah Cutting Flagg Portrait by Mathew Brady c. 1844–1860 18th New York City Comptroller In office January 1, 1853 – December 31, 1858 Mayor Jacob Aaron Westervelt Fernando Wood Preceded by Joseph R. Taylor Succeeded by Robert T. Haws 10th New York State Comptroller In office February 7, 1842 – December 31, 1847 Governor William H. Seward Silas Wright John Young Preceded by John A. Collier Succeeded by Millard Fillmore In office January 11, 1833 – February 4, 1839 Governor William L. Marcy William H. Seward Preceded by Silas Wright Succeeded by Bates Cooke 11th Secretary of State of New York In office February 14, 1826 – January 12, 1833 Governor DeWitt Clinton Nathaniel Pitcher Martin Van Buren Enos T. Throop William L. Marcy Preceded by John Van Ness Yates Succeeded by John Adams Dix Member of the New York State Assembly from the Clinton district In office January 1, 1823 – December 31, 1824 Preceded by Abijah North Succeeded by Josiah Fisk Personal details Born (1790-11-28)November 28, 1790 Orwell, Vermont Died November 24, 1873(1873-11-24) (aged 82) New York City, New York Party Republican Free Soil Democratic Democratic-Republican Spouse Phoebe Maria Cole Alma mater Union College Military service Allegiance United States Branch/service United States Army Years of service 1812–1814 Battles/wars War of 1812

**Azariah Cutting Flagg** (November 28, 1790 – November 24, 1873) was an American newspaper printer, editor and politician who served twice as [New York State Comptroller](/source/New_York_State_Comptroller) from 1833 to 1839 and 1842 to 1847, in addition to several other posts. He was an ally of [President](/source/President_of_the_United_States) [Martin Van Buren](/source/Martin_Van_Buren), and became a leading member of the [Albany Regency](/source/Albany_Regency), one of the nation's earliest [political machines](/source/Political_machines).

## Early life

Azariah Flagg was the second son of Ebenezer Flagg (1756–1828) and Elizabeth Cutting Flagg (d. 1838). At age eleven, he took five-year apprenticeship in 1801–1806 with his uncle, who was a printer in [Burlington, Vermont](/source/Burlington%2C_Vermont). After learning and starting practicing trade as journeyman printer, he decided to try his fortunes in [Plattsburgh, New York](/source/Plattsburgh%2C_New_York), where he arrived in October 1811. He married Phoebe Maria Cole in October 1814; she gave birth to two daughters, Martha Maria, and Elizabeth, and a son, Henry Franklin.[1] Flagg joined the [Clinton County](/source/Clinton_County%2C_New_York) militia, and during the [War of 1812](/source/War_of_1812) fought in the 36th Regiment of the New York Militia of the Major General [Benjamin Mooers](/source/Benjamin_Mooers)' militia division.

## War of 1812

On September 5, 1814, Flagg became a militia lieutenant in a small scouting detachment of teenage boys from the Plattsburgh Academy raised by captain Martin James Aikin (1791-1828). Underage soldiers were called the *Aiken’s volunteers* since they were too young to enlist, and captain's name as their sponsor was recorded instead in a muster roll.[2]

General [Alexander Macomb](/source/Alexander_Macomb_(general)) praised the Aiken's Volunteer Rifle Company for not falling back in disorder with the bulk of Mooers' militia during the first encounters with the British invading force in the [Battle of Plattsburgh](/source/Battle_of_Plattsburgh).[3][4] Following retreat, Aiken's volunteers manned the bank of the [Saranac River](/source/Saranac_River) to prevent the enemy from crossing it; one boy was killed in the resulting skirmish. After the British started their withdrawal from Plattsburgh, the Aiken's volunteers were disbanded. In 1826, Congress awarded each of them, including Flagg, "one rifle, promised them by General Macomb, while commanding the Champlain Department, for their gallantry and patriotic services as a volunteer corps during the siege of Plattsburgh. On each of which said rifles there shall be a plate containing an appropriate inscription."[5][6]

## Career

In 1811–1813, Flagg published *The Republican* in [Plattsburgh](/source/Plattsburgh%2C_New_York) while Colonel Melancton Smith, Jr. (1782-1818) provided the editorship. From Spring 1813 to 1826, he was the sole publisher and editor of the renamed *[Plattsburgh Republican](/source/Press-Republican)*. His war record and *Republican's* readership made him popular in the county, and Flagg was elected from [Clinton County](/source/Clinton_County%2C_New_York) to the [New York State Assembly](/source/New_York_State_Assembly) in 1823 and 1824.

He was elected [Secretary of State of New York](/source/Secretary_of_State_of_New_York) in 1826, and re-elected in 1829. By the virtue of his office, he also served as Superintendent of Common Schools and Commissioner of the Canal Fund and the Canal Board. Despite his limited schooling, Flagg was able to fulfill his duties as he was self-educating himself through life.

"Disturbing a Martin's nest," political cartoon by [Henry R. Robinson](/source/Henry_R._Robinson), 1838. Flagg is in the center, behind the curtains.

He was elected New York State Comptroller in 1833, a post he held in 1833–1839, and from 1842 to 1847, both times for two terms.[7] In 1839, President Martin Van Buren appointed Flagg as [Postmaster](/source/Postmaster) at [Albany](/source/Albany%2C_New_York); he kept the job until 1841. Van Buren recommended him in 1844 to newly-elected President [James K. Polk](/source/James_K._Polk) as a candidate for secretary of the [treasury office](/source/United_States_Department_of_the_Treasury), but to no avail. After finally losing the state comptroller's position, Flagg became president of the Hudson River Railroad Company, was a treasurer of the [Chicago and Rock Island Railroad](/source/Chicago%2C_Rock_Island_and_Pacific_Railroad) and served on several railroad boards. Flagg's final political office was [New York City Comptroller](/source/New_York_City_Comptroller), in which capacity he served in 1852–1858. He retired in November 1858 after developing blindness.

During his long political career, he began as a member of the [Bucktails](/source/Bucktails) faction of the [Democratic-Republican Party](/source/Democratic-Republican_Party), then became a [Jacksonian](/source/Jacksonian_Democrats), a [Democrat](/source/United_States_Democratic_Party) and [Barnburner](/source/Barnburners_and_Hunkers), then joined the [Free Soilers](/source/Free_Soil_Party) in the late 1840s, and finally the nascent [Republican Party](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) in the mid-1850s.[8] He was one of the leading members of the Albany Regency, who exercised a great deal of control over New York's Democratic-Republican Party, along with [Van Buren](/source/Martin_Van_Buren), [Silas Wright](/source/Silas_Wright), and [William L. Marcy](/source/William_L._Marcy).[9] In a curious encounter, Flagg was introduced to [Alexis de Tocqueville](/source/Alexis_de_Tocqueville) in [Albany](/source/Albany%2C_New_York) in 1831, and invited him to walk during the 4th of July parade with the state dignitaries.[10] Tocqueville left a mixed review of the event.[11]

Flagg suffered blindness in his both eyes during his last fourteen years of life, but managed to keep track of the public affairs with the help of his family. He continued to publish in newspapers on political and economical issues, including finances and transportation. He died in his home in New York City and was buried at the [Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn](/source/Green-Wood_Cemetery%2C_Brooklyn).[12]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** John Niven. [Flagg, Azariah Cutting.](http://www.anb.org/articles/04/04-00378.html) *American National Biography Online*. February 2000. Retrieved November 28, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Keith A. Herkalo. (2012) [The Battles at Plattsburgh, September 11, 1814](https://books.google.com/books?id=Yxe0WBQ4dUwC&pg=PA78). History Press. Charleston, S. C.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Fitz-Enz, D. G., & Elting, J. R. (2001). [The final invasion: Plattsburgh, the War of 1812's most decisive battle.](https://books.google.com/books?id=ZGOtd0UPz_sC&pg=PA110) New York: Cooper Square Press.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Capt. Martin Aiken led boy soldiers against British](http://www.pressrepublican.com/news/local_news/capt-martin-aiken-led-boy-soldiers-against-british/article_78294e01-2821-500b-8b91-4742ce9faf5f.html), *The Press-Republican*, September 14, 2014

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Peter Sailly Palmer. [History of Lake Champlain: From it First Exploration by the French in 1609, to the close of the year 1814.](https://books.google.com/books?id=217xCvoPgJ4C&pg=PA222) Albany, N.Y., 1866.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [City of Plattsburgh to dedicate Bridge Street Bridge](http://www.suncommunitynews.com/articles/city-plattsburgh-dedicate-bridge-street-bridge/), *The Sun*, May 17, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Weed, Parsons and Co. [*The New York Civil List* compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough](https://books.google.com/books?id=E3sFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA34), 1858, pp. 33, 34 and 273.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Obituary](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1873/11/26/79057132.pdf), *The New York Times*, November 26, 1873 (giving wrong birthplace)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Sheppard, S. (2008). [The partisan press: A history of media bias in the United States.](https://books.google.com/books?id=2COfBQAAQBAJ&dq=Azariah++Flagg&pg=PA85) Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Co.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Pierson, G. W. (1996). [Tocqueville in America](https://books.google.com/books?id=LJbwV4WznGkC&dq=Azariah++Flagg&pg=PA179). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Brogan, H. (2009). [Alexis de Tocqueville: Prophet of democracy in the age of revolution](https://books.google.com/books?id=Xu2prhTlW10C&dq=You+can+imagine+what+goose+each+honest+citizen+made+of+himself%3B+the+martial+turnout+was+really+ridiculous&pg=PT173). London: Profile.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [Funeral](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1873/11/29/105198527.pdf), *The New York Times*, November 29, 1873.

## Further reading

- [Flagg genealogy](https://web.archive.org/web/20101124211551/http://genealogyofnewengland.com/f_7a5.htm)

- [Clinton County newspapers](https://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyclinto/gazetteer/notes.html), *Clinton County, Rootsweb*

- [List of names of a volunteer company of riflemen who did duty in the service of the United States, on the invasion of Plattsburgh by sir George Prevost in September 1814](https://books.google.com/books?id=QRJFAQAAMAAJ&dq=general+Benjamin+Mooers&pg=PA262). Certified by M. J. Aikin, *Captain*, and Azariah C. Flagg, *Lieutenant*. American State Papers. Class Y. Military Affairs. Volume III. Washington, 1860, p. 262.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Azariah C. Flagg](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Azariah_C._Flagg).

- [Republican (1811-1813), Plattsburgh, N.Y.](http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84031397/), *NYS Historic Newspapers*

- [Plattsburgh Republican, (1813-1916), Plattsburgh, N.Y.](http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn83031979/), *NYS Historic Newspapers*

Political offices Preceded by John Van Ness Yates Secretary of State of New York 1826–1833 Succeeded by John Adams Dix Preceded by Silas Wright New York State Comptroller 1833–1839 Succeeded by Bates Cooke Preceded by John A. Collier New York State Comptroller 1842–1847 Succeeded by Millard Fillmore

v t e Secretaries of state of New York J Scott L Scott Hale T Tillotson Jenkins T Tillotson Jenkins Hale Jenkins Rensselaer Porter R Tillotson Cooper Yates Flagg Dix Spencer Campbell* Young Benton Morgan Randall Leavenworth Headley Tucker Floyd-Jones Ballard Depew Barlow Nelson Scribner Willers Bigelow Beach Carr Cook Rice Palmer McDonough O'Brien Whalen Koenig Lazansky May Hugo Lyons Hamilton Knapp Moses Flynn Walsh Curran DeSapio Simon Lomenzo Ghezzi Cuomo Paterson Shaffer Treadwell Daniels Milano* Jacobs Cortés-Vázquez Colón* Perales Rosado Rodriguez Mosley * denotes acting

v t e New York state comptrollers Sands* Curtenius** Jones Henry Jenkins McIntyre Savage Marcy S Wright Flagg Cooke Collier Flagg Fillmore Hunt Fuller J Wright Cook Burrows Church Denniston Robinson Hillhouse Allen Nichols Hopkins Robinson Olcott Wadsworth Davenport Chapin Wemple Campbell Roberts Morgan Gilman Knight Miller Kelsey Wilson Glynn Gaus Kelsey*** Williams Sohmer Travis Wendell Maier Fleming Murphy Tremaine Yates*** O'Leary Moore McGovern Levitt Regan McCall Hevesi Sanzillo*** DiNapoli * as auditor general, ** as auditor, *** acting

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Azariah C. Flagg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azariah_C._Flagg) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azariah_C._Flagg?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.