ALBANY REGENCY, the name given to a coterie of poli ticians who from about 182o to 1854 largely controlled the machinery of the Democratic Party in the State of New York. The members of this group constituted the first highly effective American political machine. They derived their power chiefly from their great personal influence and political sagacity. On the whole they actively opposed political corruption, though they always acted on the principle, first stated in 1833 by one of their ablest leaders (Marcy), that "to the victors belong the spoils." Among the members of this unofficial body, whose headquarters were at Albany, were Martin Van Buren, W. L. Marcy, Silas Wright and John A. Dix. About 1848 the opponents of the group began to adopt similar tactics, soon dividing the Democratic Party into irreconcilable factions, and thereafter the prestige of the "regency" rapidly waned.