I don't think whether it's historical or contemporary fiction figures into the decision. For your historical MC the time of the story is the present, just as it would be for a contemporary. Ask yourself what the narration needs, past or present? FWIW, my WIP is historical fiction set in the 20s and it's coming alive in present tense whereas in past it really didn't. One of the reasons I'm sticking with present is that my crit partners asked several times, "Does she know about the Depression?" In other words, is the MC narrating with knowledge of what came after the story's time? Past tense allows room for that question; present tense lets the reader know that the answer is No.