BURRALL, William Porter, railroad official, born in Canaan, Connecticut, in 1806 ; died in Hartford, Connecticut, 3 March, 1874. He was graduated at Yale in 1826, studied law in Salisbury, Connecticut, and at the Litchfield law-school, and was admitted to the bar of Litchfield county in 1829. He practiced law in his native town until October, 1839, when he was chosen president of the Housatonic railroad company, and removed to Bridgeport, Connecticut This office he held for fifteen years, when he resigned in consequence of the pressure of other engagements. He was also connected with the New York and New Haven railroad during its construction and the earlier years of its operation, was treasurer, and afterward president, of the Illinois central railroad, vice-president, and afterward president, of the Hartford and New Haven railroad, and was finally vice-president of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford railroad upon the consolidation of those companies. He removed to Salisbury, Connecticut, in 1859, subsequently represented that town several times in the general assembly, and was also a member of the state senate.