The Major General who led the recovery effort after Cyclone Tracy has died.

Retired Major General Alan Stretton flew to Darwin in 1974 to head the relief effort after the city was destroyed.

Under his leadership, 36,000 people were evacuated and essential services were restored.

Major General Stretton passed away on Friday night aged 90.

Historian Peter Forrest says the Major General has left a lasting legacy.

"He of course will be always remembered in Darwin as the man who took command of the immediate post-cyclone phase, those first five or six days," he said.

"I think he did a great job in focusing the mind of the nation on what Darwin's situation really was.

"He was able to use all of his authority and connections to focus the entire resources of the nation onto Darwin's situation and its needs and I think he was just about uniquely placed to do that."