Why did Solon become a general English term for a wise lawmaker?

Solon became a general English term for a wise lawmaker because he was a renowned Athenian statesman and one of the Seven Wise Men of Greece. During the 6th century BCE, he implemented significant constitutional and judicial reforms that replaced harsh existing laws with a more humane code, effectively mediating deep-seated social and economic inequities in Athens.123

His reputation for wisdom and his role in restructuring the Athenian government led to the use of his name in English—starting as early as 1625—to refer to any wise statesman. Over time, the term has evolved; while it originally denoted a wise and skillful lawgiver, it is now frequently used by journalists to describe any member of a legislative body. In contemporary usage, the term is sometimes applied ironically to legislators who lack the wisdom for which the original Solon was celebrated.1