Garland trade welcomes new man of great learning (7)

I believe the answer is:

leibniz

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'man of great learning' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?

'garland trade welcomes new' is the wordplay.
'garland' becomes 'lei' (synonyms).
'trade' becomes 'biz' (I've seen this in other clues).
'welcomes' indicates putting letters inside (in sense of 'invites in').
'new' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation eg NT for New Testament).
'biz' going around 'n' is 'bniz'.
'lei'+'bniz'='LEIBNIZ'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for leibniz that I've seen before include "German polymath" , "Philosopher" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times.

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