![]() The earliest OED citations are from the US. Here's a contemporary account of the Marquis painting people and doors and windows in 1837 Melton Mowbray, UK, but there's nothing (verifiable) in Google Books for paint the town red from before 1884, then suddenly eight examples, I think all American, and most inside quotes suggesting it's a new phrase. ![]() From what I found, this phrase came from 1880s Kentucky, USA, and described cowboys riding into town, getting drunk and causing havoc. I thought it would be interesting to trace the US origins to confirm or refute this. ![]() I don't believe this comes from the Marquis of Waterford, when all the early citations point to a US origin.
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